“The battle of feeding”: Awareness and practices of responsive complementary feeding in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka - a qualitative study

Abstract IntroductionThe psychological and social issues experienced by family members of missing persons are different from normal grief following the death of a loved one. The term “Ambiguous loss” describes this psychological phenomenon. “Ambiguous loss” acts as a barrier to adjusting to grief, leading to symptoms of depression and intra and interpersonal relational conflicts. An in-depth understanding of this subjective experience is important.MethodA qualitative study was conducted among close family members of persons who had gone missing during the civil conflict and the 2004 tsunami in southern Sri Lanka. Purposive and snowballing sampling methods were used to recruit the participants. In-depth interviews were recorded with the help of a semi-structured guide, after informed consent. The recordings were transcribed and thematically analyzed by three independent investigators. The investigators met to code the themes and ground them through reflexivity. The triangulation process involved cross-checking with the interviewees. ResultsTheoretical sample saturation was achieved with 24 family members of missing persons. Responders were mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and siblings of missing individuals. Six predominant themes were identified. They lacked closure, hope, guilt, helplessness, perpetual suffering, and effects due to gender roles. ConclusionThe close family member of the missing person has prolonged vacillating grief characterized by hope, guilt, helplessness, and perpetual suffering due to lack of closure. The effects are more pronounced in women through the interplay of socio-cultural factors. The surviving loved one is ‘locked in grief’ indefinitely.

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Socio-cultural Factors Associated with Complementary Feeding in Two Rural Districts in Ghana: A qualitative study involving Health Workers

European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety ◽

10.9734/ejnfs/2020/v12i530224 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 10-24

Author(s):

Christiana Naa Atsreh Nsiah-Asamoah

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Health Workers ◽

Cultural Beliefs ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Cultural Factors ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Rural Districts

Aim: This study sought to explore the cultural factors that are associated with complementary feeding from the reports of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Volunteers (CHVs) in two rural districts in Ghana. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional qualitative study that assessed cultural beliefs, norms, superstitions and practices that influence complementary feeding practices of young children under two years in two rural farming districts in Ghana Study Area: The study was conducted at Kwahu Afram Plains North and South Districts in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Methodology: The study employed qualitative methods which entailed conducting 9 focus group discussions among CHWs and CHVs working at two rural districts in Ghana. The focus group discussions were conducted with the aid of a validated, interview guide, after obtaining informed consent (written) from the health workers. Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Boards of the Dodowa Health Research Centre and the University of Cape Coast. Thematic content analytical procedures were applied to analyze the transcripts, interpret and present findings as a narrative account. Results: The reports of the health workers indicate a common practice of early introduction of solid foods to infants before they attain six(6) months of age. Cultural beliefs, superstitions, beliefs, food taboos and prohibitions influence mothers’ complementary-feeding practices and result in limiting the food scope and dietary diversity of their young children. Conclusions: Interventions designed to promote appropriate complementary feeding practices should incorporate an understanding of social context, family, and cultural factors in developing nutrition promotion messages that are tailored to meet the needs of rural populations. More community interventions that draw on the support of key influential persons in the community and fathers are needed to address cultural barriers to appropriate complementary feeding practices.

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Determinants of inappropriate complementary feeding practices in young children in Sri Lanka: secondary data analysis of Demographic and Health Survey 2006-2007

Maternal and Child Nutrition ◽

10.1111/j.1740-8709.2011.00375.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 60-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Upul Senarath ◽

Sanjeeva S. P. Godakandage ◽

Hiranya Jayawickrama ◽

Indika Siriwardena ◽

Michael J. Dibley

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Young Children ◽

Health Survey ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Secondary Data Analysis ◽

Demographic And Health Survey

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Views of Specialists on Referral Communications : A Qualitative Study from Sri Lanka

World Family Medicine Journal/Middle East Journal of Family Medicine ◽

10.5742/mefm.2014.92491 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 34-38

Author(s):

A. H. W. De Silva ◽

R. D. N. Sumanasekera ◽

K. A. T. Fernando

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Qualitative Study

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166. Barriers to implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs in low- or middle-income country settings: findings from a multi-site qualitative study

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.210 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S91-S91

Author(s):

Robert J Rolfe ◽

Charles M Kwobah ◽

Florida Muro ◽

Anushka S Ruwanpathirana ◽

Furaha Lyamuya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Perceived Barriers ◽

Medical Doctors ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Middle Income ◽

Antimicrobial Prescribing ◽

The World

Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance has been named as one of the top ten threats to health in the world. The World Health Organization has endorsed the implementation of hosptial-based antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) to reduce antimicrobial resistance. We conducted a qualitative study to determine perceived barriers to the development and implementation of ASPs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods We conducted 46 interviews with medical doctors at tertiary care hospitals in Sri Lanka (22 doctors), Kenya (12), and Tanzania (12). Interviews assessed knowledge and receptiveness to ASPs and barriers to implementing ASP protocols. Interviews were conducted in English, audio recorded, and transcribed. The interviews discussed knowledge of antimicrobial resistance and ASPs, current antimicrobial prescribing practices, access to diagnostics, receptiveness to ASPs, and perceived barriers to implementing ASPs. Data analysis followed procedures of applied thematic analysis, and used NVivo software. A codebook included structural themes based on the interview questions and emerging inductive themes. Two independent reviewers coded the interviews, and the coding was combined and reviewed for consensus. Themes were synthesized, with comparisons made across the three sites. Results Medical doctors from all three sites discussed multiple barriers to improving antimicrobial prescribing: prohibitively expensive antimicrobials, limited antimicrobial availability, resistance to change current practices regarding antimicrobial prescribing, and limited diagnostic data. The most frequent of these barriers discussed in all three locations was limited drug availability, mentioned by 12/22 physicians in Sri Lanka, 5/12 in Tanzania and 8/12 in Kenya. Improved education was a suggested component of ASPs in all three sites: 7/22 in Sri Lanka, 6/12 in Tanzania, and 6/12 in Kenya. Conclusion The study highlighted several important issues in determining the next steps for the implementation of ASPs in these LMIC hospitals. Improving drug availability and improving education to change physicians’ antimicrobial prescribing practices are important targets that could be addressed by ASPs in these facilities. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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