scholarly journals First Aid Practices for Injured Children in Rural Ghana: A Cluster-Random Population-Based Survey

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Adam Gyedu ◽  
Barclay Stewart ◽  
Easmon Otupiri ◽  
Peter Donkor ◽  
Charles Mock
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Burn Injury ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
First Aid Training ◽  
At Home

Abstract Introduction: The majority of injury deaths occur outside health facilities. However, many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to lack efficient Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Understanding current first aid practices and perceptions among members of the community is vital to strengthening non-EMS, community-based prehospital care. Study Objective: This study sought to determine caregiver first aid practices and care-seeking behavior for common household child injuries in rural communities in Ghana to inform context-specific interventions to improve prehospital care in LMICs. Methods: A cluster-randomized, population-based household survey of caregivers of children under five years in a rural sub-district (Amakom) in Ghana was conducted. Caregivers were asked about their practices and care-seeking behaviors should children sustain injuries at home. Common injuries of interest were burns, laceration, choking, and fractures. Multiple responses were permitted and reported practices were categorized as: recommended, low-risk, or potentially harmful to the child. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between caregiver characteristics and first aid practices. Results: Three hundred and fifty-seven individuals were sampled, representing 5,634 caregivers in Amakom. Mean age was 33 years. Most (79%) were mothers to the children; 68% had only completed basic education. Most caregivers (64%-99%) would employ recommended first aid practices to manage common injuries, such as running cool water over a burn injury or tying a bleeding laceration with a piece of cloth. Nonetheless, seven percent to 56% would also employ practices which were potentially harmful to the child, such as attempting manual removal of a choking object or treating fractures at home without taking the child to a health facility. Reporting only recommended practices ranged from zero percent (burns) to 93% (choking). Reporting only potentially harmful practices ranged from zero percent (burns) to 20% (fractures). Univariate regression analysis did not reveal consistent associations between various caregiver characteristics and the employment of recommended only or potentially harmful only first aid practices. Conclusions: Caregivers in rural Ghanaian communities reported using some recommended first aid practices for common household injuries in children. However, they also employed many potentially harmful practices. This study highlights the need to increase context-appropriate, community-targeted first aid training programs for rural community populations of LMICs. This is important as the home-based care provided for injured children in these communities might be the only care they receive.

scholarly journals The Safety and Feasibility of a Family First Aid Approach for the Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage in Home Births: A Pre-post Intervention Study in Rural Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meighan Mary ◽  
Sadiqua Jafarey ◽  
Rasha Dabash ◽  
Imtiaz Kamal ◽  
Arjumand Rabbani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Postpartum Hemorrhage ◽  
Intervention Study ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Excessive Bleeding ◽  
Home Births ◽  
Intervention Phase ◽  
Home Deliveries ◽  
At Home

Abstract Objective To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a Family First Aid approach whereby women and their families are provided misoprostol in advance to manage postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in home births. Methods A 12-month prospective, pre-post intervention study was conducted from February 2017 to February 2018. Women in their second and third trimesters were enrolled at home visits. Participants and their families received educational materials and were counseled on how to diagnose excessive bleeding and the importance of seeking care at a facility if PPH occurs. In the intervention phase, participants were also given misoprostol and counselled on how to administer the four 200 mcg tablets for first aid in case of PPH. Participants were followed-up postpartum to collect data on use of misoprostol for Family First Aid at home deliveries (primary outcome) and record maternal and perinatal outcomes. Results Of the 4008 participants enrolled, 97% were successfully followed-up postpartum. Half of the participants in each phase delivered at home. Among home deliveries, the odds of reporting PPH almost doubled among in the intervention phase (OR 1.98; CI 1.43, 2.76). Among those reporting PPH, women in the intervention phase were significantly more likely to have received PPH treatment (OR 10.49; CI 3.37, 32.71) and 90% administered the dose correctly. No maternal deaths, invasive procedures or surgery were reported in either phase after home deliveries. Conclusions The Family First Aid approach is a safe and feasible model of care that provides timely PPH treatment to women delivering at home in rural communities.

First Responders and Prehospital Care for Road Traffic Injuries in Malawi

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Chokotho ◽  
Wakisa Mulwafu ◽  
Isaac Singini ◽  
Yasin Njalale ◽  
Limbika Maliwichi-Senganimalunje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Communication Systems ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
First Responders ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Key Informants ◽  
Road Traffic Injuries ◽  
First Response ◽  
First Aid Training

AbstractIntroductionRoad traffic collisions are a common cause of injuries and injury-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Basic prehospital care can be the difference between life and death for injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.ProblemThis study examined the challenges associated with current first response practices in Malawi.MethodsIn April 2014, focus groups were conducted in two areas of Malawi: Karonga (in the Northern Region) and Blantyre (in the Southern Region; both are along the M1 highway), and a qualitative synthesis approach was used to identify themes. All governmental and nongovernmental first response organizations identified by key informants were contacted, and a checklist was used to identify the services they offer.ResultsAccess to professional prehospital care in Malawi is almost nonexistent, aside from a few city fire departments and private ambulance services. Rapid transportation to a hospital is usually the primary goal of roadside care because of limited first aid knowledge and a lack of access to basic safety equipment. The key informants recommended: expanding community-based first aid training; emphasizing umunthu (shared humanity) to inspire bystander involvement in roadside care; empowering local leaders to coordinate on-site responses; improving emergency communication systems; equipping traffic police with road safety gear; and expanding access to ambulance services.ConclusionPrehospital care in Malawi would be improved by the creation of a formal network of community leaders, police, commercial drivers, and other lay volunteers who are trained in basic first aid and are equipped to respond to crash sites to provide roadside care to trauma patients and prepare them for safe transport to hospitals.ChokothoL, MulwafuW, SinginiI, NjalaleY, Maliwichi-SenganimalunjeL, JacobsenKH. First responders and prehospital care for road traffic injuries in Malawi. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(1):14–19.

Effect of First Aid Education on First Aid Knowledge and Skills of Commercial Drivers in South West Nigeria

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 579-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adesola O. Olumide ◽  
Michael C. Asuzu ◽  
Oladele O. Kale
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Repeated Measures Anova ◽  
South West ◽  
Skill Scores ◽  
First Aid Training ◽  
Commercial Drivers

AbstractBackgroundPrompt prehospital care is essential for improving outcomes of road crash victims; however, this service is sub-optimal in developing countries because Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are not readily available. Training of lay responders in first aid has been suggested as a means of filling this gap in settings with inadequate EMS. This study was conducted to determine the effect of first aid training on the first aid knowledge and skills of commercial drivers.MethodsA before-and-after study was conducted among 128 commercial drivers (62 intervention and 66 controls) selected by multi-stage sampling. Drivers’ first aid knowledge and skills were assessed at baseline, immediate, and three months post-intervention. The intervention involved a 2-day training session in first aid. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for differences in respondents’ pre- and post-intervention scores over the three assessment points.ResultsMean first aid knowledge scores for intervention drivers were 48.9% (SD=12.0), 57.8% (SD=11.2), and 59.2% (SD=9.0) at baseline, immediate, and three months post-intervention. Corresponding scores for the controls were 48.3% (SD=12.8), 39.2% (SD=15.3), and 46.8% (SD=15.3). Mean first aid skill scores for intervention drivers were 17.5% (SD=3.8), 80.7% (SD=8.3), and 72.3% (SD=16.8). Scores for control drivers were 16.5% (SD=4.5), 16.3% (SD=4.7), and 20.4% (SD=9.1), respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant differences in first aid knowledge and skills scores over the three phases. Independent t-test revealed significant differences in scores between the intervention and control groups post-intervention.ConclusionThe training led to significant improvement in first aid knowledge and skills of intervention drivers. This confirms that lay responders can be trained in provision of first aid. The slight drop in skills scores, which occurred three months post-intervention, highlights the need for periodic refresher trainings to be conducted for the drivers in order to maintain the knowledge and skills acquired.OlumideAO, AsuzuMC, KaleOO. Effect of first aid education on first aid knowledge and skills of commercial drivers in South West Nigeria. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(6):579–585.

scholarly journals Traffic police officers’ use of first aid training at work: a qualitative content analysis of focus group discussions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Menti Lastone Ndile ◽  
Britt-Inger Saveman ◽  
Gift G. Lukumay ◽  
Dickson A. Mkoka ◽  
Anne H. Outwater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
World Health ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
First Aid Training

Abstract Background : The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends involving lay people in prehospital care. Several training programmes have been implemented to build lay responder first aid skills. Findings show that most programmes significantly improved participants’ first aid skills. However, there is a gap in knowledge of what factors influence the use of these skills in real situations. The current study aimed to describe police officers’ views on and experiences of factors that facilitate or hinder their use of trained first aid skills at work.Methods Thirty-four police officers participated in five focus group discussions. A structured interview guide was used to collect data. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.Results: We identified five categories of facilitators or hindrances. Training exposure was considered a facilitator; work situation and hospital atmosphere were considered hindrances; and the physical and social environments and the resources available for providing first aid could be either facilitators or hindrances.Conclusion: Practical exposure during training is perceived to improve police officers’ confidence in applying their first aid skills at work. However, contextual factors related to the working environment need to be addressed to promote this transfer of skills.

Mental health first aid training for Extension agents in rural communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-307
Author(s):  
Mary Nelson Robertson ◽  
Hilary L. DeShong ◽  
Je’Kylynn S. Steen ◽  
David R. Buys ◽  
Michael R. Nadorff
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Mental Health First Aid ◽  
First Aid Training

scholarly journals Health Emergency Disaster Risk Management of Public Transport Systems: A Population-Based Study after the 2017 Subway Fire in Hong Kong, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Chan ◽  
Zhe Huang ◽  
Kevin Hung ◽  
Gloria Chan ◽  
Holly Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Disaster Risk Management ◽  
Fire Response ◽  
First Aid Training ◽  
Transport Safety

Background: Literature on health emergency disaster risk management (Health-EDRM) for urban public transport safety is limited. This study explored: (i) the confidence in public transport safety, (ii) the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and risk perception of transport safety and (iii) the association between previous first-aid training and response knowledge. Method: This is a population-based cross-sectional telephone survey conducted in March 2017, one month after a major subway incident in Hong Kong. Respondents were randomly selected with the Random Digit Dialing method among Cantonese-speaking population ≥15 years. Sociodemographic information, type of transport used and the corresponding worries, response knowledge and previous first-aid training experience (as a proxy for individual skills in Health-EDRM training proxy) were collected. Results: Among the 1000 respondents, 87% used public transport daily. The self-reported confidence in subway safety was 85.6% even after a subway fire accident. Female, those with lower income and people unmarried were more likely to express worry about transport safety. About 46.1–63.2% respondents had the correct fire related health response knowledge. Previous first-aid training (32%) was found to be associated with fire response knowledge in a mixed pattern. Conclusions: Despite inadequacy in fire response knowledge, previous first-aid training appeared to be a beneficial factor for emergency response knowledge. Emergency responses education should be provided to the public to reduce health losses during emergencies.

scholarly journals Spatial Heterogeneity of Enteric Fever in 2 Diverse Communities in Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. S205-S213
Author(s):  
Dipesh Tamrakar ◽  
Krista Vaidya ◽  
Alexander T Yu ◽  
Kristen Aiemjoy ◽  
Shiva Ram Naga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Enteric Fever ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Salmonella Typhi ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Urban Catchment

Abstract Background Typhoid fever is endemic in the urban Kathmandu Valley of Nepal; however, there have been no population-based studies of typhoid outside of this community in the past 3 decades. Whether typhoid immunization should be prioritized in periurban and rural communities has been unclear. Methods We performed population-based surveillance for enteric fever in 1 urban catchment (Kathmandu) and 1 periurban and rural catchment (Kavrepalanchok) as part of the Surveillance for Enteric Fever in Asia Project (SEAP). We recruited individuals presenting to outpatient and emergency departments at 2 study hospitals with suspected enteric fever and performed blood cultures. Additionally, we conducted a household survey in each catchment area to characterize care seeking for febrile illness. We evaluated spatial heterogeneity in febrile illness, care seeking, and enteric fever incidence. Results Between September 2016 and September 2019, we enrolled 5736 participants with suspected enteric fever at 2 study hospitals. Among these, 304 (5.3%) were culture positive for Salmonella Typhi (249 [81.9%]) or Paratyphi A (55 [18.1%]). Adjusted typhoid incidence in Kathmandu was 484 per 100 000 person-years and in Kavrepalanchok was 615 per 100 000 person-years. While all geographic areas for which estimates could be made had incidence >200 per 100 000 person-years, we observed spatial heterogeneity with up to 10-fold variation in incidence between communities. Conclusions In urban, periurban, and rural communities in and around Kathmandu, we measured a high but heterogenous incidence of typhoid. These findings provide some support for the introduction of conjugate vaccines in Nepal, including outside urban areas, alongside other measures to prevent enteric fever.

Family as the Main Caregivers during Child Delivery in Resource-Poor Settings of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Idowu Ajayi ◽  
Wilson Akpan
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
The Family ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
At Home

This article drew from a population-based survey of 413 women to determine the proportion of births assisted by the family in resource-poor areas of Nasarawa State. “Resource-poor settings” was defined as rural communities without access to health facilities. This exploratory study utilised a two-stage cluster random sampling technique to select 413 houses where questionnaires were administered to women who had given birth in the five years preceding the study. Simple descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the study data. The analysis reveals gross inequality in access to skilled birth facilities during childbirth in Nasarawa State. Births at home were common in rural areas among women of low socio-economic status who were illiterate. In resource-poor settings (where health facilities were unavailable), the family played a substantial role in child delivery. Specifically, while doctors and nurses attended to about 90 per cent of all births in resource-rich settings (where health facilities are available), the family members took delivery of 51.5 per cent of all births in resource-poor settings. Family members or relatives delivered the majority of the births that took place at home (61.6%). The traditional birth attendants assisted only 11.5 per cent of births within resource-poor settings, compared to only two per cent within resource-rich settings. The findings emphasised that the role of the family in caregiving during childbirth is not limited to providing social capital and emotional support but they also act as key caregivers, especially in resource-poor settings.

scholarly journals Epidemiology and Knowledge of First Aid Treatment Related to Burn Injury in the Rural Region of Kulon Progo, Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (E) ◽  
pp. 101-108
Author(s):  
Rianto Noviady Ramli ◽  
Almas Prawoto ◽  
Nyoman Putu Riasa ◽  
Iswinarno Doso Saputro ◽  
Ahmad Fawzy Mas'ud
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Burn Injury ◽  
Total Body Surface Area ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Poor Knowledge

BACKGROUND: We investigated the epidemiology and the knowledge of first aid regarding to burns in the rural area of Kulon Progo, located in Indonesia. Although 44% of Indonesia’s population resides in rural areas, data of burn in Indonesia are very limited to national referral centers located in Indonesia’s largest cities. We also surveyed the patients and families of these burn patients to try to understand their knowledge on the first aid of burns. AIM: We wanted to explore and discover what myths and misperceptions existed in rural communities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study analyzing the medical records of patients with burns admitted to two of Kulon Progo’s largest referral hospitals between January 2018 and December 2019. A survey was distributed to the patients and their families regarding their knowledge on the first aid of burns. We wanted to analyze if certain groups of the population were more at risk for specific types of burn etiologies, the correlation between burn etiology and length of stay, the correlation between total body surface area (TBSA) of burns and length of stay in the hospital, and the correlation between education level of survey participants’ and their knowledge of first aid of burns. RESULTS: A total of 115 patients were reviewed in this study. The highest proportion of total burn injuries occurred in the age group of 1–14 years old (38%). The major etiology of all burn cases were caused by scald (54%). Housewives and children were at a higher risk for scalds and laborers were at a higher risk for electrical and chemical burns (p = 0.001). There was no significant correlation between etiology and length of stay (p = 0.29). There was a statistically significant correlation between the TBSA and the length of hospital stay (p = 0.0001). The majority of survey respondents (66%) had poor knowledge on the first aid of burns. There was no significant correlation between education level and knowledge of first aid of burns (p = 0.07547). CONCLUSIONS: Children, laborers, and housewives have a significant risk of suffering from a burn injury. A majority of people still have poor knowledge on the first aid of burns. There was no correlation between education levels and knowledge of first aid burns.

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