scholarly journals An exploratory study of the acceptability of indoor residual spraying for malaria control in upper western Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitalis Mwinyuri Suuron ◽  
Lillian Mwanri ◽  
George Tsourtos ◽  
Ebenezer Owusu-Addo

Abstract Background: Despite the implementation of the World Health Organisation’s recommended indoor residual spraying (IRS) intervention in the upper west region of Ghana to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality, the uptake of this intervention remains low. This study explores the facilitators and barriers to the acceptability and community uptake of indoor residual spraying in a highly endemic region of Ghana. Methods: The health belief model (HBM) and realist evaluation framework were used to inform the study. A qualitative enquiry was conducted between April to October 2016. Data were collected through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with program stakeholders including community members, AngloGold Ashanti malaria control (AGA Mal) spray operators, and AGA Mal officials. Results: A total of 101 people participated in the study. Considerable barriers to community acceptance of indoor residual spraying (IRS) were found, including, dislike of spray insecticides, inadequate information, religious and cultural beliefs, perceived low efficacy of IRS, difficulties with packing, unprofessional conduct of IRS spray operators, and other operational barriers to spraying. Facilitators of IRS uptake included a perceived effectiveness of IRS in preventing malaria and reducing mosquito bites, incidental benefits, respect for authority, training and capacity building, and sensitization activities. Conclusion: The numerous barriers to indoor residual spraying acceptance and implications show that acceptance levels could be improved. However, measures are required to address householders’ concerns and streamline operational barriers to increase community uptake of indoor residual spraying.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitalis Mwinyuri Suuron ◽  
Lillian Mwanri ◽  
George Tsourtos ◽  
Ebenezer Owusu-Addo

Abstract Background: Despite the implementation of the World Health Organisation’s recommended indoor residual spraying (IRS) intervention in the upper west region of Ghana to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality, the uptake of this intervention remains low. This study explores the facilitators and barriers to the acceptability and community uptake of indoor residual spraying in a highly endemic region of Ghana. Methods: The health belief model (HBM) and realist evaluation framework were used to inform the study. A qualitative enquiry was conducted between April to October 2016. Data were collected through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with program stakeholders including community members, AngloGold Ashanti malaria control (AGA Mal) spray operators, and AGA Mal officials. Results: A total of 101 people participated in the study. Considerable barriers to community acceptance of indoor residual spraying (IRS) were found, including, dislike of spray insecticides, inadequate information, religious and cultural beliefs, perceived low efficacy of IRS, difficulties with packing, unprofessional conduct of IRS spray operators, and other operational barriers to spraying. Facilitators of IRS uptake included a perceived effectiveness of IRS in preventing malaria and reducing mosquito bites, incidental benefits, respect for authority, training and capacity building, and sensitization activities. Conclusion: The numerous barriers to indoor residual spraying acceptance and implications show that acceptance levels could be improved. However, measures are required to address householders’ concerns and streamline operational barriers to increase community uptake of indoor residual spraying.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Lucy Beishon ◽  
Victoria Haunton ◽  
Hari Subramaniam ◽  
Elizabeta B. Mukaetova-Ladinska ◽  
Ronney B. Panerai ◽  
...  

Background: Cognitive training (CT) may have benefits for both healthy older adults (HC) and those with early cognitive disorders [mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia]. However, few studies have qualitatively evaluated home-based, computerized CT programs. Objective: We present the qualitative arm of a feasibility randomized controlled trial evaluating a CT program for HC and people living with MCI or dementia. Methods: Participants underwent semi-structured interviews after 12 weeks of CT. Where possible, participants were interviewed with their carers. The interview schedule and analysis were underpinned by the health belief model. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, open-coded, and categorized into themes. The analytical framework was developed, and themes were condensed under five major categories: benefits, barriers, threat, self-efficacy, and cues to action. Results: 37 participants underwent interviews. CT was feasible and acceptable to participants. Benefits included: enjoyment, improved awareness, benchmarking cognitive function, reassurance of abilities and giving back control. Barriers were more prevalent among those with dementia: problems with technology, frustration, conflict between patients and carers, apathy and lack of insight, anxiety or low mood, and lack of portability. HC and MCI perceived the severity of dementia risk as high, partially mitigated by CT. Participants living with dementia valued a more individualized approach to training, accounting for baseline characteristics. Conclusion: CT was a feasible intervention for HC and people living with dementia and MCI. Benefits were present, but the identified barriers need to be addressed for CT to be implemented successfully.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Kemeugni Ngandjon ◽  
Alfred Laengler ◽  
Thomas Ostermann

Abstract Background: The childhood vaccination program (EPI) is claimed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most cost-effective intervention to reduce child mortality. Therefore, in low-income countries governments and health authorities invest in vaccination programs to reach the herd immunity. However, despite the resources allocated to the EPI, epidemics preventable through vaccines are still reported in these countries. In Cameroon, the Foumbot district in the West region has witnessed measles epidemics since 2010 and in 2013 a polio outbreak was reported. Methods: The design of this study is a cross-sectional survey. A total of 160 mothers of children between the ages of 12 to 23 months were interviewed. The Health-Belief-Model was applied to design a community-related framework regarding maternal decision-making.Results: The outcome of this survey shows that 60% of the children studied were completely vaccinated, 37.75% were partially vaccinated, and 1.25% had not received any vaccine. The logistic regression analysis shows that affiliation to Islam (OR=0.2) and a poor knowledge of infectious diseases (OR=0.3) were significant predictors of complete childhood vaccination failure. Conclusion: Starting the vaccination program at birth and a good knowledge of infectious diseases were important factors for complete childhood vaccination. Additionally, health facilities presented a shortage of qualified health personnel. Public health authorities should invest in health education programs with the goal of developing skills for health- seeking behavior in individuals and communities.


Author(s):  
Mara Ipa ◽  
Endang Puji Astuti ◽  
Bina Ikawati ◽  
Tri Wijayanti ◽  
Yulidar Yulidar ◽  
...  

Lymphatic filariasis disease impacts the patients both socially and economically. Health seeking behavior was related to the variation of local perceived.  This research is required to explore the wide variety of local perspectives as input into treatment program intervention strategies. The study was conducted in 12 districts in Indonesia, namely Pidie, North Aceh, Aceh Jaya, West Pasaman, South Pesisir, Subang, Tangerang, West Kota Waringin, North Hulu Sungai, Donggala, Bombana, and Asmat. Qualitative methods with the health belief model approach were used to assess the community’s knowledge about lymphatic filariasis disease and its treatments. This study used 24 informants consisting of 14 men and 10 women. Results showed there were 9 out of 12 regions that have a localized concept of lymphatic filariasis disease. Most informants believe that the disease occured as a result of the curse of the ancestor or the curse of visiting a certain place, or supernatural power. Most informants stated that seeking indigenous healers was carried out if the informant felt that self-treatment did not produce the result as expected. There was a tendency between knowledge and elimination efforts of lymphatic filariasis disease. Therefore, it is recommended to provide a better understanding of local knowledge about lymphatic filariasis


Curationis ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Gcaba ◽  
H.B. Brookes

This paper examines the unbooked maternity patient in an academic hospital in Durban, Natal; This hospital is the biggest hospital serving the underprivileged population of this area. Of the 16000 annual deliveries in this hospital, about 12% are unbooked patients. The health belief model of Rosenstock, as interpreted by Mikhail and Cox’s interaction model of client health behaviour were used as a theoretical framework for this research. A qualitative case study methodology was undertaken and semi-structured interviews were conducted with unbooked mothers who had utilized appropriate health services in a previous pregnancy. The aim of such interviews was to explore reasons given by mothers for non-use of facilities in the current pregnancy. The basic trends reflected in the findings regarding non-utilization of health services were client instability, health service failure and socio-cultural constraints, The study is innovative and addresses the problem from a social-cultural and midwifery perspective.


Author(s):  
Emeka E. Orisakwe ◽  
Andrew J. Ross ◽  
Peter O. Ocholla

Background: With millions of South Africans infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and less than 10% of the population aware of their HIV status, HIV counselling and testing (HCT) is the first step in any attempt to reduce the number of new infections. For those who test negative, HCT personalises the risks and reinforces preventative messages whilst for those who are positive, it is the gateway to accessing counselling and care. The Health Belief Model postulates that knowledge and attitude influence behaviour. The aim of this study was to determine whether knowledge of HIV and the attitude of patients referred for HCT correlated with a willingness to test for HIV.Methods: One hundred and seventy two patients referred for HCT were randomly selected over a three month period. Data were collected by a research assistant using the modified standardised World Health Organization (WHO)–Global AIDS Project (GAP) questionnaire.Results: Ninety per cent of the participants demonstrated sound knowledge of HIV, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HCT. Despite the 90% of the participants with sound knowledge only 71.5% of the participants tested for HIV. There was no statistically significant difference in knowledge between those who tested and those who did not test for HIV. Twenty five per cent of those who refused to test stated that they had already made up their mind not to test for HIV before the counselling session.Conclusions: Despite excellent knowledge of HIV, a significant number of patients referred for HCT do not test for HIV.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261688
Author(s):  
Rafaela M. Ribeiro ◽  
Philip J. Havik ◽  
Isabel Craveiro

Background Understanding health delivery service from a patient´s perspective, including factors influencing healthcare seeking behaviour, is crucial when treating diseases, particularly infectious ones, like tuberculosis. This study aims to trace and contextualise the trajectories patients pursued towards diagnosis and treatment, while discussing key factors associated with treatment delays. Tuberculosis patients’ pathways may serve as indicator of the difficulties the more vulnerable sections of society experience in obtaining adequate care. Methods We conducted 27 semi-structured interviews with tuberculosis patients attending a treatment centre in a suburban area of Lisbon. We invited nationals and migrant patients in active treatment to participate by sharing their illness experiences since the onset of symptoms until the present. The Health Belief Model was used as a reference framework to consolidate the qualitative findings. Results By inductive analysis of all interviews, we categorised participants’ healthcare seeking behaviour into 4 main types, related to the time participants took to actively search for healthcare (patient delay) and time the health system spent to diagnose and initiate treatment (health system delay). Each type of healthcare seeking behaviour identified (inhibited, timely, prolonged, and absent) expressed a mindset influencing the way participants sought healthcare. The emergency room was the main entry point where diagnostic care cascade was initiated. Primary Health Care was underused by participants. Conclusions The findings support that healthcare seeking behaviour is not homogeneous and influences diagnostic delays. If diagnostic delays are to be reduced, the identification of behavioural patterns should be considered when designing measures to improve health services’ delivery. Healthcare professionals should be sensitised and perform continuous capacity development training to deal with patients´ needs. Inhibited and prolonged healthcare seeking behaviour contributes significantly to diagnostic delays. These behaviours should be detected and reverted. Timely responses, from patients and the healthcare system, should be promoted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine E. Adam ◽  
Ann Bruce ◽  
Alexander Corbishley

Neonatal lamb and calf deaths are a major issue in UK agriculture. Consistent mortality rates over several decades, despite scientific advances, indicate that socioeconomic factors must also be understood and addressed for effective veterinary service delivery to improve lamb and calf survival. This qualitative study utilised semi-structured interviews with vets and farmers to explore the on-farm mechanisms and social context, with a particular focus on the role of the vet, to manage and reduce neonatal losses in beef calves and lambs on British farms. Data were analysed using a realist evaluation framework to assess how the mechanisms and context for veterinary service delivery influence survival as the outcome of interest. A lack of a clear outcome definition of neonatal mortality, and the financial, social and emotional impact of losses on both vets and farmers, are barriers to recording of losses and standardisation of acceptable mortality levels at a population level. Despite this, there appears to be an individual threshold on each farm at which losses become perceived as problematic, and veterinary involvement shifts from preventive to reactive mechanisms for service delivery. The veterinarian-farmer relationship is central to efforts to maximise survival, but the social and economic capital available to farmers influences the quality of this relationship. Health inequalities are well-recognised as an issue in human healthcare and the findings indicate that similar inequalities exist in livestock health systems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii36-ii44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Hing ◽  
Risa M Hoffman ◽  
Juliet Seleman ◽  
Florence Chibwana ◽  
Daniel Kahn ◽  
...  

Abstract Non-communicable diseases like hypertension are increasingly common among individuals living with HIV in low-resource settings. The prevalence of hypertension among people with HIV in Malawi, e.g. has been estimated to be as high as 46%. However, few qualitative studies have explored the patient experience with comorbid chronic disease. Our study aimed to address this gap by using the health belief model (HBM) to examine how comparative perceptions of illness and treatment among participants with both HIV and hypertension may affect medication adherence behaviours. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 75 adults with HIV and hypertension at an urban clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi. Questions addressed participants’ experiences with antiretroviral and antihypertensive medications, as well as their perspectives on HIV and hypertension as illnesses. Interviews were performed in Chichewa, transcribed, translated into English and analysed using ATLAS.ti. Deductive codes were drawn from the HBM and interview guide, with inductive codes added as they emerged from the data. Self-reported medication adherence was much poorer for hypertension than HIV, but participants saw hypertension as a disease at least as concerning as HIV—primarily due to the perceived severity of hypertension’s consequences and participants’ limited ability to anticipate them compared with HIV. Differences in medication adherence were attributed to the high costs of antihypertensive medications relative to the free availability of antiretroviral therapy, with other factors like lifestyle changes and self-efficacy also influencing adherence practices. These findings demonstrate how participants draw on past experiences with HIV to make sense of hypertension in the present, and suggest that although patients are motivated to control their hypertension, they face individual- and system-level obstacles in adhering to treatment. Thus, health policies and systems seeking to provide integrated care for HIV and hypertension should be attentive to the complex illness experiences of individuals living with these diseases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 77-87
Author(s):  
Melissa Goble ◽  
Judith Eberhardt ◽  
Paul van Schaik

Abstract. Background: Food hypersensitivity is often self-diagnosed, and research into barriers to help-seeking is scarce. Aims: This study in the United Kingdom sought to establish the relationship between health beliefs, health anxiety, and diagnostic type (medically diagnosed vs. self-diagnosed) in individuals with food hypersensitivity, and qualitatively explored attitudes of self-diagnosed individuals and their barriers to attaining a medical diagnosis. Method: A mixed-methods design involving 107 participants with food hypersensitivity (64 medically diagnosed and 43 self-diagnosed). Participants completed an adapted version of the health belief model questionnaire and a health anxiety questionnaire. A subset of six self-diagnosed participants took part in semi-structured interviews. Results: Binary logistic regression showed that health anxiety, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity were significantly associated with diagnostic type. Qualitative thematic analysis of interviews yielded three themes: control over food, diagnosis, and treatment; judgment regarding feeling judged negatively on one’s choice of food, and being compared to fad-dieters; and the public’s and participants’ own lack of perceived severity of food hypersensitivity. Limitation: The sample was self-selected and therefore not necessarily representative of the population; however, an adult population was examined in an area that has so far largely studied children. Conclusion: Health psychologists should become involved in developing and testing interventions to help those with food hypersensitivity to control and reduce distress. Further researching the issues of control, judgment, and perceived severity could help tackle barriers to help-seeking behavior.


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