scholarly journals Access to Healthcare and Health Seeking Behaviour among Female Head Porters in Kumasi, Ghana: The Impact on Public Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 136-148
Author(s):  
Justice Ofori Amoah
Keyword(s):  
Urban Communities ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Female Head ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
The Impact

Given the nodality of Kumasi, the city attracts migrants from all parts of Ghana into its market space. Notable among such migrants are the female head porters popularly called “Kayayie”. As a result of the expensive rents in urban space, female head porters live in kiosks, verandas, and squatters in any available space. This exposes the porters to a myriad of environmental and health risks amidst poor health-seeking behaviour. This study sought to examine access to health and health-seeking behaviour of female head porters in Kumasi. The study adopted quantitative methods in collecting and analyzing data. The primary units of the investigation were female head porters. The study used a sample size of 250 respondents who were interviewed through self-administered questionnaires. Findings show that only 25.2% of the respondents had access to healthcare, as about 74.8% lacked access to basic healthcare. The majority of those who had access to healthcare (54%) go to the health facility by foot, while about 42.9% access the facility by car. Though 71.4% of the head porters were subscribers of NHIS, only 25.2% resort to professional healthcare givers when they are sick. Generally, access to health and health-seeking was poor among the female head porters. The study recommended the expansion of health facilities, especially in poor urban communities, and education on health-seeking among head porters. Keywords: Female head porters, Health seeking behaviour, Health conditions, Migration; Urban poor.

scholarly journals Understanding the impact of a new Pharmacy Sore throat Test and Treat service on patient experience: A quantitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Efi Mantzourani ◽  
Rebecca Cannings-John ◽  
Andrew Evans ◽  
Haroon Ahmed ◽  
Alan Meudell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sore Throat ◽  
Patient Experience ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Test And Treat ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background : A pilot of the first NHS funded Sore Throat Test and Treat (STTT) service in the United Kingdom began in selected community pharmacies in Wales in November 2018. The aim of this research was to explore whether a pharmacist delivering consultation for sore throat that included clinical scoring and point-of-care testing was acceptable to patients, and how this might influence future health-seeking behaviour for subsequent sore-throats. Methods : Quantitative research was employed, with a non-experimental design using a survey research tool including a mix of closed and open questions, developed in collaboration with members of the public. The patient experience survey was distributed to all patients who had completed a consultation between November 2018 and May 2019. Data from completed surveys were entered in Jisc Online Surveys® and exported to Excel® for descriptive statistics. Free-text comments were analysed using content and inductive thematic analysis. Results : A total of 510 surveys were received from 2,839 sore throat consultations (response rate 18%). Overall, 501 patients (98%) were satisfied with the service. Patients’ confidence in managing their condition and service satisfaction was not dependent on having been supplied antibiotics. A total of 343 patients (67%) requested a GP appointment but were offered to a consultation in the pharmacy. After the service, 504 patients (99%) stated that they would return to the pharmacy for subsequent sore throat symptoms. Inductive analysis of free-text comments (n=242) revealed 3 themes: convenience and accessibility; professionalism of pharmacy team; and perceived value of the service. Conclusions : Results confirmed high levels of patient satisfaction with the new service, the way it was delivered and the increased choice of options for sore throat symptom management it offered. Whilst this research can only discuss patients’ reported future behaviour, the patient-reported stated intentions signify a potential shift in health-seeking behaviour towards a pharmacist-led service. This has important implications in supporting the long term plan of the governments in Wales and England to redirect management of uncomplicated conditions from GPs to pharmacies.

scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the health-seeking behaviour of an Asian population with acute respiratory infections in a densely populated community

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hwee Mian Jane Tan ◽  
Mui Suan Tan ◽  
Zi Ying Chang ◽  
Kee Tung Tan ◽  
Guan Liang Adrian Ee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Circuit Breaker ◽  
Health Belief ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic led to the implementation of various non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) as the Singapore government escalated containment efforts from DORSCON Orange to Circuit Breaker. NPI include mandatory mask wearing, hand hygiene, social distancing, and closure of schools and workplaces. Considering the similar mode of transmission of COVID-19 and other pathogens related to acute respiratory infections (ARI), the effects of NPI could possibly lead to decreased ARI attendances in the community. This study aims to determine the year-on-year and weekly changes of ARI attendances across a cluster of polyclinics following the implementation of NPI. Methods The effect of the nation-wide measures on the health-seeking behaviour of the study population was examined over three periods: (1) 9 weeks prior to the start of Circuit Breaker (DORSCON Orange period), (2) 8 weeks during the Circuit Breaker, and (3) 9 weeks after easing of Circuit Breaker. Data on ARI attendances for the corresponding periods in 2019 were also extracted for comparison and to assess the seasonal variations of ARI. The average weekly workday ARI attendances were compared with those of the preceding week using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results ARI attendances dropped steadily throughout the study period and were 50–80% lower than in 2019 since Circuit Breaker. They remained low even after Circuit Breaker ended. Positivity rate for influenza-like illnesses samples in the community was 0.0% from the last week of Circuit Breaker to end of study period. Conclusions NPI and public education measures during DORSCON Orange and Circuit Breaker periods appear to be associated with the health-seeking behaviour of the public. Changing levels of perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits and barriers, and widespread visual cues based on the Health Belief Model may account for this change. Understanding the impact of NPI and shifts in the public’s health-seeking behaviour will be relevant and helpful in the planning of future pandemic responses.

scholarly journals The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gastrointestinal infection trends in England, February - July 2020

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola K Love ◽  
Alex J Elliot ◽  
Rachel Chalmers ◽  
Amy Douglas ◽  
Saheer Gharbia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Marked Change ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Historic Data ◽  
Gi Infections ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To establish the impact of the first six months of the COVID-19 outbreak response of gastrointestinal (GI) infection trends in England. Design: Retrospective ecological study using routinely collected national and regional surveillance data from eight Public Health England coordinated laboratory, outbreak and syndromic surveillance systems using key dates of UK governmental policy change to assign phases for comparison between 2020 and historic data. Results: Decreases in GI illness activity were observed across all surveillance indicators as COVID-19 cases began to peak. Compared to the 5-year average (2015-2019), during the first six months of the COVD-19 response, there was a 52% decrease in GI outbreaks reported (1,544 vs. 3,208 (95% CI: 2,938 - 3,478) and a 34% decrease in laboratory confirmed cases (27,859 vs. 42,495 (95% CI: 40,068 - 44,922). GI indicators began to rise during the first lockdown and lockdown easing, although all remained substantially lower than historic figures. Reductions in laboratory confirmed cases were observed across all age groups and both sexes, with geographical heterogeneity observed in diagnosis trends. Health seeking behaviour changed substantially, with attendances decreasing prior to lockdown across all indicators. Conclusions: There has been a marked change in trends of GI infections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The drivers of this change are likely to be multifactorial; while changes in health seeking behaviour, pressure on diagnostic services and surveillance system ascertainment have undoubtably played a role there has likely been a true decrease in the incidence for some pathogens resulting from the control measures and restrictions implemented. This suggests that if some of these changes in behaviour such as improved hand hygiene were maintained, then we could potentially see sustained reductions in the burden of GI illness.

scholarly journals Impact of Emigration on Health in Low Income Urban Zimbabwe

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tafadzwa Carlington Chigariro
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Place Of Origin ◽  
Household Heads ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Emigration is a potential determinant of health at the place of origin. This study aimed to explore the impact of emigration on health by comparing access to health and healthcare among emigration exposed and non-exposed households in urban Zimbabwe.Methods: The study design was a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. A cross sectional survey was employed to collect concurrent and retrospective data from households in Hatcliff District in Harare, Zimbabwe. An Interviewer Administered Questionnaire (IAQ) was used for data collection. Standard questionnaires used in previous studies by IOM and WHO were used as reference points in the development of the study questionnaire.Results: The study respondents were de facto household heads. 268 (96%) household heads were successfully interviewed out of the computed target of 279. The study findings showed that emigration had a positive impact on household income (Pearson Chi-Square test of association [χ2 (4) = 12.3 (P < 0.05)]). Emigration was also associated with better access to health facilities ([χ2 (2) = 1.751 (P<0.05)]) and healthier nutrition. Emigration exposed household members were also more likely to maintain healthy lifestyle. Only 28% of households exposed to emigration reported a negative shift of healthy lifestyle compared to 72% of households not exposed to emigration.Conclusions: The study exposed emigration to be a significant determinant of health in urban places of origin. This effect seemed to be highly positive. Contrary to commonly reported negative consequences of emigration on health at the place of origin, mostly through brain drain, we conclude that there are significant positive effects for consideration when developing and implementing migration policies and programmes.

scholarly journals Insider/outsider researcher positionality impact: lessons from researching the social construction of HIV stigma and sexual health-seeking behaviour within black sub-Sahara African communities

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathew Nyashanu
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Hiv Stigma ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe paper aims to show the impact of insider/outsider researcher positionality and the lessons from researching the social construction of HIV stigma and sexual health-seeking behaviour within black sub-Sahara African communities (BSSA).Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a reflection on the impact of researcher positionality based on lessons learnt following a research study on the social construction of HIV stigma and sexual health-seeking behaviour within BSSA communities.FindingsResearcher positionality has a direct impact on the quality and nature of study outcomes. Depending on the nature and circumstances of a given research study, the researcher status in terms of position (insider or outsider) can be dynamic and instrumental in the level of participation by research participants. In this paper, the authors consider three important interdependent aspects central to conducting research including researcher identity, research participants and the research topic to assess the impact of researcher status on the quality and nature of the information provided by the research participants.Originality/valueA researcher who is viewed as both an insider/outsider can either positively or negatively influenced the quality and nature of the information given by the research participants.

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