scholarly journals Predictors of patients' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding uncomplicated malaria in the primary healthcare facilities of Plateau state, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanloh Samuel Jimam ◽  
Nahlah Elkudssiah Ismail

PurposeThis study determined factors that influenced patients' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding uncomplicated malaria in primary healthcare (PHC) facilities of Plateau state, Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe data of 956 patients treated for uncomplicated malaria in PHC facilities of Plateau state were used for the study. Inferential statistical analyses were conducted to identify factors that influenced patients' KAP on the disease and its management.FindingsThe study revealed age (p < 0.001), level of education (p = 0.012), attitudes (p = 0.007) and practices (p < 0.001) as significant predictors of knowledge outcomes on uncomplicated malaria, while their attitudes towards the disease and its management was predicted by their gender (p = 0.011), occupation (p = 0.049), monthly income (p = 0.018), knowledge (p < 0.001) and practices (p < 0.001). Furthermore, their practices were significantly predicted by monthly incomes (p = 0.043), knowledge (p < 0.001), attitudes (p < 0.001) and number of anti-malarial and adjunct drugs administered to them (p = 0.041).Originality/valueThe study revealed a mixed influence of patients' characteristics on their KAP outcomes. This calls for appropriate intervention measures towards achieving the desired patients' therapeutic outcomes.

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 224-236
Author(s):  
Nanloh S. Jimam ◽  
Nahlah E. Ismail ◽  
Shalkur David ◽  
Benjamin N. Joseph ◽  
Michael A. Adeniyi ◽  
...  

Malaria infection is a major public health problem in Nigeria. The present study explored patients’ thoughts and feelings on uncomplicated malaria and its management practices in some primary healthcare (PHC) facilities of Plateau state, Nigeria. An in-depth interview was conducted on patients receiving treatment in some of the facilities in the state, who were recruited through purposive sampling method up to saturation point. All the information was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim before analysis using the principles of thematic content analysis of inductive method. Generally, their views on malaria-related issues were categorised into four main themes based on their relevancies as: patients’ perceptions on malaria infection and anti-malarial drugs, the role of healthcare workers and family during treatment, medications taken and socio-economic-related factors, as well as their general views on healthcare facilities-related factors. The study showed patients’ perceptions of the aforementioned factors as influencing their treatment and management practices of the disease in the study area. Necessary interventions that would improve patients’ quality of management of the disease toward achieving the desired outcome of therapy are recommended.


Author(s):  
NANLOH S JIMAM ◽  
NAHLAH E ISMAIL

Objectives: This study aimed to assess patients’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on uncomplicated malaria management in primary health-care (PHC) facilities of Plateau state, Nigeria. Methods: A validated self-reported scale known as patients’ KAP instrument for uncomplicated malaria with Cronbach’s alpha reliability of 0.74 was administered to 956 patients that consented to participate in the study across 24 PHC facilities in the state between May and July 2017. The collated data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS®) version 23 software. Results: There were more female participants (53.5%) compared to the males (46.5%), and majority (33.4%) within the age range of 28 and 37 years with 26.5% falling within the age range of 18–27 years and children of <18 years of age constituted 13.8% of the study population. About 42.1% of the respondents were married, and many either had secondary (37.3%) or primary (30.0%) education as their highest qualifications. With overall mean (±standard deviation [SD]) attitudes’ score of 34.55 (±7.20), majority (50.8%) were categorized as having average positive attitudes toward disease and its management, and many of them (55.2%) also had good knowledge (mean [±SD] score=4.59 [±1.44]) and practices (67.1%) (mean [±SD] score=14.98 [±3.44]) on the disease and its management. Conclusion: The study indicated respondents’ knowledge and practices on uncomplicated malaria as good, while their attitudes toward the disease and its management were average.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amina M. Al Marzouqi ◽  
Michael E. Otim ◽  
Heba H. Hijazi ◽  
Leena S. Kehail ◽  
Ramsha A. Kamal

Abstract Objectives: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a global health pandemic that continues to have an impact on many aspects of everyday life. This study investigates the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) related to COVID-19 among healthcare workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: This study uses a cross-sectional study design. The original data were collected using an online questionnaire distributed via a Google Forms link. Participants were healthcare workers currently working in the UAE healthcare facilities and recruited using snowball sampling. The questionnaire collected information on demographic variables and COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practice.Results: In total, the sample of 107 healthcare workers completed the survey. About 92% of the participants worked in public institutions, 87% were from Dubai, and 673% were female. The majority were aged 31–40 years (34.6%), and 43% were radiographers. 66.4% held bachelor’s degrees and Indian nationalities were (28%) and the Philippinos were (28%). Most (90.7%) participants knew the absence of fever did not mean that the virus could not transmit from an infected person, and 84.1% agreed that wearing general medical masks prevented one from contracting COVID-19. However, only 36.4% strongly believed that wearing a well-fitting face mask was effective. In addition, only 15.9% reported confidently managing patients with symptoms of COVID-19, and 54.2% reported that they were afraid of contracting the virus from patients. Almost half of the participants avoided patients who had symptoms of COVID-19. Conclusion: Overall, healthcare workers’ COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices for healthcare workers in UAE healthcare facilities was very high. However, we found gaps in awareness regarding the spread of the pandemic. Our study recommends that providing healthcare workers with education programs and counseling services would help increase their confidence in treating patients with COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suvasish Das Shuvo ◽  
Md. Eunus Ali ◽  
Md. Masudur Rahman ◽  
Abu Taher ◽  
Md Asaduzzaman ◽  
...  

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the association between dietary patterns with health status and smoking-related knowledge, attitudes and practices (s-KAP) among Bangladeshi adolescent smokers. Design/methodology/approach An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 205 randomly selected adolescents. Socio-demographic, health status, s-KAP related data were collected in face-to-face interviews. Dietary intake data were calculated using the food frequency questionnaire. Findings The practices score (44.8%) was comparatively poor among adolescent smokers. Among the respondents, around 56.1%, 38.1% and 49.3% were suffering from gastric problems, nausea and the loss of appetite, respectively, because of smoking. There was a significant relationship between dietary diversity and the occurrence of several diseases such as gastric problems, nausea and loss of appetite. The respondents who consumed fresh fruits and vegetables regularly might reduce gastric problems (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.27–1.04 and OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.25–1.65), nausea (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.38–1.37 and OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13–0.84) and loss of appetite (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.32–1.21 and OR: 0.16 95% CI: 0.27–0.68). Originality/value In conclusion, smoking has been associated with multiple health problems because of poor practices score. Consumption of a balanced diet, better smoking-related knowledge, attitudes and practices needs to be improved among adolescents.


Author(s):  
Shaho Karami ◽  
Seyed Mohammad Shobeiri ◽  
Hamidreza Jafari ◽  
Hamidreza Jafari

Purpose Teachers can be regarded as key figures in climate change education (CCE). Therefore, the purpose of this study is assessment of Iranian lower secondary teachers? level of knowledge, attitudes and practices toward CCE in a less-touched-upon context. Design/methodology/approach The present study used a cross-sectional survey design, which used a specially designed questionnaire administered in ten high schools (five boys’ and five girls’ lower secondary schools). A sample of 108 lower secondary school teachers was selected through a multistage stratified random sampling technique. The gender structure of the sample was 48.1 per cent male and 51.9 per cent female subjects. To determine the status of teachers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices, the obtained quantitative data were classified into three categories on a scale of 100 per cent: good status (more than 75 per cent), moderate status (50-75 per cent) and weak status (less than 50 per cent). Findings The findings revealed that the involved teachers were equipped with an appropriate knowledge, i.e. 22.2 per cent good and 52.8 per cent moderate levels of knowledge. Furthermore, the subjects’ level of attitude was moderate (44.5 per cent); however, their level of practice was weak (52.8 per cent). In terms of gender, male subjects’ knowledge and attitude levels were higher than those of female subjects. However, female subjects reported higher levels of practice in comparison with male subjects. Overall, the results of this study highlighted the necessity of improving lower secondary teachers’ CCE in general and of the level of their attitudes and practices in particular. Originality/value The present study sheds more light on the change management and environmental education within the Iranian context. The results of this study accentuate the necessity of presenting more CCE programs for teachers. Furthermore, curriculum planners can take advantage of the obtained results to carry out curriculum reforms.


2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richa Chaturvedi ◽  
Nimali Singh

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze changes in knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding diet and life style related risk factors among male and female coronary artery disease (CAD) patients (30‐60 yrs), in Jaipur city.Design/methodology/approachAll willing patients under medical supervision for CAD were included. A detailed pre‐tested and standardized interview schedule was used to elicit required information. In total, 100 subjects were assessed for KAP. Retrospective data were recorded for the information on KAP prior to the incidence of the disease.FindingsThe major findings revealed that there was a significant change in knowledge, attitudes and practices before and after the incidence of CAD. Knowledge and attitudes were found to have a strong association. Close association was statistically established between knowledge and smoking practice for male subjects and between attitudes and weight loss for female patients. No association could be established for other attributes.Originality/valueThe study explores the effect of CAD on the knowledge, attitude and practices of the patients regarding diet and life style related risk factors. It also observes and compares the data for prior to the frank expression of the disease and after the disease.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Raab ◽  
Lisa M. Pfadenhauer ◽  
Tamba Jacques Millimouno ◽  
Michael Hoelscher ◽  
Guenter Froeschl

Abstract Introduction: The 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa began in Guinea’s Forest region, a region now considered to be at high risk for future epidemics of viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF). Good knowledge, attitudes and practices towards VHF amongst healthcare workers in such regions are a central pillar of infection prevention and control (IPC). To inform future training in IPC, this study assesses the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards VHF amongst healthcare workers in public healthcare facilities in the most populated prefecture in Forest Guinea, and compares results from urban and rural areas. Methods: In June and July 2019, we interviewed 102 healthcare workers in the main urban and rural public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré prefecture in Forest Guinea. We used an interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from validated KAP surveys. Results: The great majority of respondents demonstrated good knowledge and favourable attitudes towards VHF. However, respondents reported some gaps in preventive practices such as VHF suspect case detection. They also reported a shortage of protective medical equipment used in everyday clinical work in both urban and rural healthcare facilities and a lack of training in IPC, especially in rural healthcare facilities. However, whether or not healthcare workers had been trained in IPC did not seem to influence their level of KAP towards VHF. Conclusions: Three years after the end of the Ebola epidemic, our findings suggest that public healthcare facilities in the N’zérékoré prefecture in Forest Guinea still lack essential protective equipment and some practical training in VHF suspect case detection. To minimize the risk of future VHF epidemics and improve management of outbreaks of infectious diseases in the region, current efforts to strengthen the public healthcare system in Guinea should encompass questions of supply and IPC training.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amina M. Al Marzouqi ◽  
Michael E. Otim ◽  
Leena S. Kehail ◽  
Ramsha A. Kamal

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19 Pandemic) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is a global health issue that continues to have an impact on many aspects of everyday life. A new variant, Omicron variant, has just been detected in Southern Africa. Most countries are jittery and unsure what the impact of this new variant will be. This study, undertaken in 2021, investigated the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) related to the COVID-19 Pandemic among healthcare workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Methods: We used an online questionnaire to collect data using the Google Forms link in this cross-sectional study. The participants included healthcare workers currently working in UAE healthcare facilities using snowball sampling. The questionnaire contained information on demographic variables and COVID-19 Pandemic-related KAP.Results: Among the participants, the majority (90.7%) knew that the absence of fever did not mean there was no chance of transmission from an infected person. Further, 84.1% agreed that wearing general medical face masks helps prevent one from contracting COVID-19 Pandemic. However, only 36.4% strongly believed that wearing a well-fitting face mask was effective. In addition, only 15.9% reported confidently managing patients with symptoms of COVID-19 Pandemic, while 54.2% indicated they were afraid of contracting the virus from patients. Almost half the participants noted that they avoided patients who had symptoms of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Conclusion: Overall, the COVID-19 Pandemic-related KAP for healthcare workers in UAE healthcare facilities was very high. However, we found gaps in awareness regarding the spread of the virus. We recommend providing healthcare workers with education programs and counseling services to help increase their confidence in treating patients with the COVID-19 Pandemic.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document