scholarly journals Perceptions, attitudes and practices towards scabies in communities on the Bijagós Islands, Guinea-Bissau

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria João Lopes ◽  
Eunice Teixeira da Silva ◽  
Janete Ca ◽  
Adriana Gonçalves ◽  
Amabelia Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Guinea Bissau

Abstract Background Scabies is highly endemic among impoverished populations and has been recently included in the WHO’s list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Community support and behavioural changes are essential for the success of control interventions. This study aimed to explore beliefs, prevention attitudes and healthcare-seeking behaviours towards scabies in the Bijagós Archipelago of Guinea-Bissau. Methods Data were collected through two methods. Community key informants (community members, community health workers, healthcare workers and traditional healers) were interviewed using snowball sampling. A questionnaire covering perceptions, attitudes and practices was administered to community members using random cluster sampling. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was applied to identify themes. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data analysis. Results There was a satisfactory awareness about scabies, but perceptions about disease causation and transmission were imprecise. Misconceptions about personal hygiene as the primary measure for scabies prevention were recurrent. Some participants recognised the importance of early treatment to interrupt transmission. Treatment of close contacts was not considered important. Costs were the main determining factor for treatment choice between traditional healer and the local health centre. Late presentation and delayed treatment were common and associated with poverty and stigmatisation. Scabies impaired quality of life by affecting social interactions, health, fitness to work and school attendance. Conclusions There is a need to improve education, recognition, management and affordable access to treatment. Community education, healthcare workers’ training and skin NTD integrated control programmes should address the challenges highlighted in this study.

scholarly journals Perceptions, attitudes and practices towards scabies in communities on the Bijagós Islands, Guinea-Bissau

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria João Lopes ◽  
Eunice Teixeira da Silva ◽  
Janete Ca ◽  
Adriana Gonçalves ◽  
Amabelia Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Guinea Bissau

AbstractIntroductionScabies is highly endemic among impoverished populations and has been recently included in the WHO’s list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Community support and behavioural changes are essential for the success of control interventions. This study aimed to explore beliefs, prevention attitudes and health care-seeking behaviours towards scabies in the Bijagós Archipelago of Guinea-Bissau.MethodsData were collected through two methods. Community key informants (community members, community health workers, healthcare workers and traditional healers) were interviewed using snowball sampling. A questionnaire covering perceptions, attitudes and practices was administered to community members using random cluster sampling. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was applied to identify themes. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data analysis.ResultsThere was a satisfactory awareness about scabies, but perceptions about disease causation and transmission were imprecise. Misconceptions about personal hygiene as the primary measure for scabies prevention were recurrent. Some participants recognised the importance of early treatment to interrupt transmission. Treatment of close contacts was not considered important. Costs were the main determining factor for treatment choice between traditional healer and the local health centre. Late presentation and delayed treatment were common and associated with poverty and stigmatisation. Scabies impaired quality of life by affecting social interactions, health, fitness to work and school attendance.ConclusionsThere is a need to improve education, recognition, management and affordable access to treatment. Community education, healthcare workers’ training and skin NTDs integrated control programmes should address the challenges highlighted in this study.Authors SummaryScabies is a common skin infection in low income settings. We conducted a study in Guinea-Bissau to explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices about scabies. We conducted interviews with healthcare workers, traditional healers and community members and additionally used an oral-administered questionnaire with a larger sample of community residents. Most individuals had knowledge of scabies and were aware that person to person transmission occurred. However personal and environmental hygiene were both incorrectly identified as particularly important in the transmission of scabies. Cost played a major role in determining where individuals sought care and both poverty and disease associated stigma resulted in delays seeking care. There is a need to improve community and health care worker education about scabies and improve affordable access to treatment.

scholarly journals Community-Based Stunting Intervention Strategies: Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 259
Author(s):  
Lita Heni Kusumawardani ◽  
Rasdiyanah Rasdiyanah ◽  
Utami Rachmawati ◽  
Muhamad Jauhar ◽  
I Gusti Ayu Putu Desy Rohana
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Normal Children ◽  
Nutritional Interventions ◽  
Attitudes And Practices

Stunting is a growth disorder in children caused by malnutrition for a long time. The child's condition becomes shorter than normal children his age and has a delay in thinking. The incidence of stunting in Indonesia is quite high sostunting is becoming a priority health problem now. An effective strategy is needed to control stunting in Indonesia. The aim of this review was to explore the stunting management strategies to potentially implement in Indonesia.A literature review design was used to explore the stunting management strategies. Literature study of 15 articles retrieved from the journal database of Science Direct, Proquest, Scopus, and EBSCO in the last 5 years using keywords stunting, management, rural areas, and community based. Data were analyzed in tables consist of title, author, year, sample, methodology, and result. Control and preventionstunting could done through integrated nutrition interventions.Strategy Specific nutritional interventions such as providing supplementation and supplementary food plus nutritional interventions including non-health interventions, improving the family's economy, access and utilization of clean water, sanitation (especially latrines and safe septic tanks), which are urgently needed to support personal hygiene behavior and the environment . Interventions can use mother's counseling and support methods regularly by health workers by involving health cadres.Specific and sensitive intervention strategies are effective strategies within stunting control and prevention. Monitoring and evaluation of nutritional knowledge, attitudes and practices coupled with an assessment of the nutritional status and morbidity of mothers and children is also very necessary in controlling and preventing stunting in Indonesia

scholarly journals Citywide preparedness for a pandemic: A crosssectional survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices about respiratory infection prevention in Bogotá, Colombia

Biomédica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supl. 2) ◽  
pp. 159-165
Author(s):  
Jorge Alberto Cortés ◽  
Pilar Espitia ◽  
Yuliet Liliana Rosero-Lasso
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Local Health Authority ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Adequate Knowledge ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Introduction: Healthcare personnel plays an important role in the prevention of acute respiratory infections in hospital settings.Objective: Our aim was to establish the level of knowledge about respiratory virus infections and the attitudes and practices among healthcare workers, leaders of infection control committees in hospitals of Bogotá, Colombia.Materials and methods: We used a self-administered questionnaire of 28 items during the monthly meeting sponsored by the local health authority. “Yes or no” and “true or false” questions were applied to measure knowledge. Attitudes and practices were measured with a Likert-type scale according to the agreement degree.Results: We surveyed 70 healthcare workers. Respondents demonstrated a good level of knowledge as 80% of them answered correctly more than five questions. A total of 54.4% showed a low degree of agreement when asked if their institutions have the policy to stay home when they are sick with respiratory symptoms and 67.1% never or rarely remain at home under such conditions.Conclusion: Healthcare worker leaders of infection control committees in Bogotá’s ospitals have adequate knowledge about the prevention of seasonal respiratory viruses. There is a need for implementing urgent sick leave policies as a measure to prevent the spread of potential coronavirus infections in hospitals.

scholarly journals Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthcare Workers regarding Biomedical Waste Management at Biyem-Assi District Hospital, Yaounde: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Sylvain Honoré Woromogo ◽  
Gwladys Guetsé Djeukang ◽  
Félicité Emma Yagata Moussa ◽  
Jesse Saint Saba Antaon ◽  
Kingsley Ngah Kort ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
District Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Biomedical Waste ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Good Level ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Background. Biomedical waste (BMW) is defined as unwanted materials generated during diagnosis, treatment, operation, immunization, or in research activities including production of biologicals. Healthcare workers are responsible for the proper management of this waste for human safety and for the protection of the environment. Methods. An analytical knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) study was carried out at Biyem-Assi District Hospital from June 1st to July 5th, 2018, including 100 health workers from different departments. Variables of interest were knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the respondents. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used for data collection. Data analysis was carried out using software Epi Info version 7.2.2.6. Logistic regression was used to establish the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results. Nurses constituted 32.0% of the participants, and more than half of the participants had 1–4 years of working experience (56.0%). Overall, the level of knowledge was satisfactory at 50.0%, that of attitudes was as unfavorable at 83.0%, and that of practices was as poor at 50.0%. Favorable attitudes were associated to satisfactory level of knowledge (ORa = 5.14 [3.10–8.51] and p=0.005). Good practices were associated to good level of knowledge (ORa = 5.26 [3.17–8.7] and p<0.001) and a favorable attitude (ORa = 7.30 [2.25–23, 71] and p<0.001). Conclusion. The level of knowledge was considered unsatisfactory for half of the staff interviewed. Attitudes were unfavourable at 83.0% and poor practices at 50.0%. Staff with a good level of knowledge were more likely to have favourable attitudes towards BWM. Also, good knowledge and attitude positively influenced the practice with regard to BMW management.

scholarly journals Politicking with Health Care and Its Implications for the Attainment of Universal Health Coverage

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aloysius Odii ◽  
Pamela Ogbozor ◽  
Charles Orjiakor ◽  
Prince Agwu ◽  
Obinna Onwujekwe
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Healthcare Staff ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are acknowledged key to the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) owing to their closeness to the grass-root and the constant patronage by low- and middle-income class citizens. An impediment to the efficiency of PHCs is the nature of politics on-going in its operation beginning from its physical construction, employment of staff, among others. This study provides evidence of politicking marring the efficiency of PHCs as well as possible solutions to the issue. Method The study was carried out in eight purposively selected PHC facilities drawn from three local government areas in Enugu State, southeast Nigeria. Data were collected using in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). The IDIs involved sixteen participants that cut across frontline health workers, heads and supervisors of health units at the local governments, and chairpersons of the health facility committees (HFCCs). In addition, four FGDs were held with male and female service users of the facilities. Findings It was discovered that certain powerful community members influenced the locations of PHCs, even when the general community is disfavoured by such decision. Powerful group of persons equally influence the recruitment and sanctioning of healthcare staff. The consequences include weak patronage of the facilities and poor healthcare delivery. Of the several solutions, obtaining localised support from powerful persons in the community to enforce fairness featured strongly. Conclusions The politics around primary healthcare is a threat to the achievement of UHC, since it discourages patronage and encourages inefficiency of healthcare staff. To overcome this, there is the need to facilitate genuine participation of community members and implementing local actions and policies in the facilitation of PHCs, and also, rapidly addressing the excesses of powerful groups and individuals. Key words: Primary Health Centre; Politicking; Universal Health Coverage; Power; Politics

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Paramedic Health Care Workers Towards COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1482-1487
Author(s):  
Cecyli C ◽  
Ezhilarasan G
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Adequate Knowledge ◽  
Electronic Distribution ◽  
Knowledge Practice ◽  
Knowledge And Attitude

Mankind is experiencing another remarkable involvement in the quickly spreading COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, the sickness fundamentally influences regular daily existence, bringing about a financial emergency. Moreover, the highest risk of getting COVID-19 is for the front line Healthcare workers (HWs). Therefore, utmost importance to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding COVID -19 is needed. An online Cross-sectional research design was utilized for the study. An aggregate of 100 paramedic health workers (Nurses, Pharmacist, Lab technician and Allied health technicians) were chosen using a convenient sampling technique. Data were gathered among eligible healthcare workers through an online survey by electronic distribution of self-administered questionnaire developed by the investigator. The results depict that 80% had adequate knowledge, 84.6% had a positive attitude towards COVID-19 and 88% of participants had appropriate practice related to COVID-19.  There was a positive relationship noted among knowledge and attitude(r=0.114),attitude-practice(r=0.283) and knowledge-practice(r=0.177) at p<.05 and p<.01level respectively.The outcome found that there is no huge affiliation found between selected demographic variables such as age, residence, marital status and source of information but gender and years of experience was significantly associated with knowledge and practice (p=5.18) at p<0.01 and profession was significantly associated with attitude (p=10.92) at p<0.001.

RE-ASSESSING COMMUNITY-DIRECTED TREATMENT: EVIDENCE FROM MAZABUKA DISTRICT, ZAMBIA

2014 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. HALWINDI ◽  
P. MAGNUSSEN ◽  
S. SIZIYA ◽  
D. W. MEYROWITSCH ◽  
A. OLSEN
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Drug Distribution ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Child Treatment ◽  
Helminth Infections ◽  
Significant Health

SummaryCross-sectional surveys with carers, health workers, community drug distributors (CDDs) and neighbourhood health committees were conducted to identify factors associated with utilization of community-directed treatment (ComDT) of soil-transmitted helminths in children aged 12–59 months in Mazabuka district, Zambia. The surveys took place in December 2006 and December 2007. In addition child treatment records were reviewed. The factors that were found to be significantly associated (p<0.05) with treatment of children by the CDDs were: (1) the perception of soil-transmitted helminth infections as having significant health importance, (2) the community-based decision to launch and subsequently implement ComDT, (3) the use of the door-to-door method of drug distribution, (4) CDDs being visited by a supervisor, (5) CDDs receiving assistance in mobilizing community members for treatment, (6) CDDs having access to a bicycle and (7) CDDs having received assistance in collecting drugs from the health centre. Despite the effectiveness of ComDT in raising treatment coverage there are factors in the implementation process that will still affect whether children and their carers utilize the ComDT approach. Identification and understanding of these factors is paramount to achieving the desired levels of utilization of such interventions.

scholarly journals A community-based oral health promotion model for HIV patients in Nairobi, East District in Kenya: a study protocol

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucina N. Koyio ◽  
Wil J.M. Van der Sanden ◽  
Andre Van der Ven ◽  
Jan Mulder ◽  
Nico H.J. Creugers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Test Group ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Oral Health Promotion

<em>Background</em>: General HIV-related orofacial lesions, most commonly oropharyngeal candidiasis, have a typical clinical appearance and can be recognised by members of the community. Although affected patients often experience pain leading to compromised eating and swallowing, barriers such as social stigma and lack of knowledge regarding available services may prevent them from seeking early care. Educating the community about these lesions through community health workers (CHWs) who are democratically elected community members may encourage individuals affected to seek early oral health-care in the health facilities. A health facility (HF) is a health centre mainly run by clinical officers (CO),<em> i.e. </em>personnel with a 3-year medical training, and nurses. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a CHW training programme on: i) their knowledge and recognition of HIV-related oral-facial lesions at a community level; and ii) referral of affected patients from the community to the HFs. <em>Design and Methods</em>: All 800 CHWs in 2 administrative divisions of Nairobi East District (test group n=400; control group n=400) will be selected. The test group will receive training. CHWs in both groups will be assessed at 4 time points: −3, 0, +3 and +6 months with reference to the training on: i) their knowledge of HIV-related orofacial lesions (using a written questionnaire); and ii) their performance in referring affected patients to the HFs (using clinical data). <em>Expected Impact</em>: Early recognition of HIV-related orofacial lesions at a community level will prompt community members to seek early oral care, leading to early HIV testing and counselling regarding failure of antiretroviral therapy, while treatment outcomes are still favourable.

scholarly journals Leprosy perceptions and knowledge in endemic districts in India and Indonesia: Differences and commonalities

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. e0009031
Author(s):  
Anna Tiny van’t Noordende ◽  
Suchitra Lisam ◽  
Panca Ruthindartri ◽  
Atif Sadiq ◽  
Vivek Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Levels

Background Understanding how knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding leprosy differ in endemic countries can help us develop targeted educational and behavioural change interventions. This study aimed to examine the differences and commonalities in and determinants of knowledge, attitudes, practices and fears regarding leprosy in endemic districts in India and Indonesia. Principle findings A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was used. Persons affected by leprosy, their close contacts, community members and health workers were included. Through interview-administered questionnaires we assessed knowledge, attitudes, practices and fears with the KAP measure, EMIC-CSS and SDS. In addition, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted. The quantitative data were analysed using stepwise multivariate regression. Determinants of knowledge and stigma that were examined included age, gender, participant type, education, occupation, knowing someone affected by leprosy and district. The qualitative data were analysed using open, inductive coding and content analysis. We administered questionnaires to 2344 participants (46% from India, 54% from Indonesia) as an interview. In addition, 110 participants were interviewed in-depth and 60 participants were included in focus group discussions. Knowledge levels were low in both countries: 88% of the participants in India and 90% of the participants in Indonesia had inadequate knowledge of leprosy. In both countries, cause, mode of transmission, early symptoms and contagiousness of leprosy was least known, and treatment and treatability of leprosy was best known. In both countries, health workers had the highest leprosy knowledge levels and community members the highest stigma levels (a mean score of up to 17.4 on the EMIC-CSS and 9.1 on the SDS). Data from the interviews indicated that people were afraid of being infected by leprosy. Local beliefs and misconceptions differed, for instance that leprosy is in the family for seven generations (Indonesia) or that leprosy is a result of karma (India). The determinants of leprosy knowledge and stigma explained 10–29% of the variability in level of knowledge and 3–10% of the variability in level of stigma. Conclusion Our findings show the importance of investigating the perceptions regarding leprosy prior to educational interventions in communities: even though knowledge levels were similar, local beliefs and misconceptions differed per setting. The potential determinants we included in our study explained very little of the variability in level of knowledge and stigma and should be explored further. Detailed knowledge of local knowledge gaps, beliefs and fears can help tailor health education to local circumstances.

scholarly journals Preliminary results on the control of Aedes spp. in a remote Guatemalan community vulnerable to dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus: community participation and use of low-cost ecological ovillantas for mosquito control

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerard Ulibarri ◽  
Angel Betanzos ◽  
Mireya Betanzos ◽  
Juan Jacobo Rojas
Keyword(s):  
Community Engagement ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Health Personnel ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Integrated Intervention

Objective: To study the effectiveness of an integrated intervention of health worker training, a low-cost ecological mosquito ovitrap, and community engagement on Aedes spp. mosquito control over 10 months in 2015 in an urban remote community in Guatemala at risk of dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus transmission. Methods: We implemented a three-component integrated intervention consisting of: web-based training of local health personnel in vector control, cluster-randomized assignment of an ecological modified ovitrap (ovillantas: ovi=egg, llanta=tire) or standard ovitraps to capture Aedes spp. mosquito eggs (no efforts have been taken to determine the exact Aedes species at this moment), and community engagement to promote participation of community members and health personnel in the understanding and maintenance of ovitraps for mosquito control. The intervention was implemented in local collaboration with Guatemala’s  Ministry of Health’s Vector Control Programme, and in international collaboration with the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico. Findings: Eighty percent of the 25 local health personnel enrolled in the training programme received accreditation of their improved knowledge of vector control. When ovillantas were used in a cluster of ovitraps (several in proximity), significantly more eggs were trapped by  ecological ovillantas than standard ovitraps over the 10 month (42 week) study period (t=5.2577; p<0.05). Repetitive filtering and recycling of the attractant solution (or water) kept the ovillanta clean, free from algae growth. Among both community members and health workers, the levels of knowledge, interest, and participation in community mosquito control and trapping increased. Recommendations for enhancing and sustaining community mosquito control were identified. Conclusion: Our three-component integrated intervention proved beneficial to this remote community at risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. The combination of training of health workers, cluster use of low-cost ecological ovillanta to destroy the second generation of mosquitoes, and community engagement ensured the project met local needs and fostered collaboration and participation of the community, which can help improve sustainability. The ovillanta intervention and methodology may be modified to target other species such as Culex, should it be established that such mosquitoes carry Zika virus in addition to Aedes.

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