scholarly journals Communication in Health - A Challenge

Healthline ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-3
Author(s):  
Vihang Mazumdar

The recent discussion nationally on vaccine hesitancy and reluctance to follow Covid appropriate behaviour has once again brought focus on how communication in health has remained a challenge after all these years.Why haven't we convinced mothers to wash hands and use fluids available at home for diarrhoea prevention? Why do doctors fail to give proper advice to patients even for their own prescription? Why aren't proper instructions given while dispensing IFA? Why are the four key messages not given by health workers during vaccination? One common thread runs through all these: lack of communication.

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Shah ◽  
Q Jamali ◽  
F Aisha

Abstract Background Unsafe practices such as cutting umbilical cord with unsterilized instruments and application of harmful substances, are in practice in many rural areas of Pakistan, and associated with high risk of neonatal sepsis and mortality. Methods We conducted an implementation research in 2015 in Tharparkar district, in Sindh province of Pakistan to understand the feasibility and acceptability of community-based distribution of chlorhexidine (CHX) in rural Pakistan. For this cohort group-only study, 225 lady health workers (LHWs) enrolled 495 pregnant women. Enrolled women received 4% CHX gel and user’s instructions for newborn cord care. The LHWs also counseled women on the benefits and correct use of CHX. Study enumerators collected data from CHX receiving women 3 times: at around 2 weeks before delivery, within 24 hours after delivery, and on the 8th day after delivery. We implemented this study jointly in collaboration with Ministry of Health in Sindh province, Pakistan. Results Among enrolled participants, 399 women (81%) received only the first visit, 295 women (60%) received first two visits and 261 women (53%) received all three visits by enumerators. Among 399 women, who received CHX gel, counseling on its use and were respondent to the first round data collection, 78% remembered that the CHX gel to be applied to cord stump and surrounding areas immediately after birth; but less than a third (29%) forgot the need to keep the cord clean and dry. Among 295 respondents in the first two rounds of data collection, who delivered at home, 97% applied CHX to cord stump on the first day. Conclusions Community-based CHX distribution by LHWs, along with counseling to recipient women, resulted in a high rate of cord care with CHX among newborn delivered at home. Results from this study may help program implementers to consider expanding this intervention for improving newborn cord care on the first day of life in Pakistan. Key messages Community-based distribution of chlorhexidine for newborn cord care appears as highly acceptable and feasible in rural communities in Pakistan. Relevant program policy supporting community-based CHX distribution along with counseling by LHW may help expanding coverage of newborn cord care in rural communities in Pakistan.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-61
Author(s):  
Siti Fithrotul Umami ◽  
Titiek Idayanti

Background: Development is increasing ability (skill) in the structure and function of the body that is more complex in a regular pattern and can be predicted as a result, from the results of maturation. attitude is an individual evaluation in the form of a tendency (Inclination) towards various elements outside of him. Based on the results of a preliminary study of 10 children aged 5-6 years, it was found that 5 children had normal development, 2 children doubted, and 3 children developed abnormally. While for family education conducted by parents, it was found that 7 parents supported (favorabel), and 3 parents were not supportive (unfavorable).Objectives: The study aimed to determine the influence of parents' attitudes in providing education at home toward the development of children aged 5-6 years in Bulusari Village, Gempol Sub-District, Pasuruan District.Methods: The research design was analytical design using purposive sampling with a sample of 45 parents and children in Bulusari Village, Gempol Sub-District, Pasuruan District. The measuring instrument used was a questionnaire for parents and KPSP for child development. This research is presented in the form of the Fisher's Exact Test.Results: The results showed that of 38 parents (84.45%) who supported having normal development children as many as 35 children (77.78%). Based on the results of the Fisher's Exact Test statistical test, it was found that the value of p <α, which is 0.001022 <0.05, which means that there is an influence from the provision of family education conducted by parents to the development of children aged 5-6 years.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is expected that efforts from health workers to increase counseling to parents so that they have a role and have an obligation to help, assist children, teach children to actively learn, give love, develop creativity and socialization of children. Kata kunci : Parent’s attitude, development of 5-6 years, giving education in houses.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Baratali Rezapour

Preventable factors such as infectious diseases (pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria), malnutrition and neonatal complications are still the leading cause of child mortality worldwide 1 In 2013, it is estimated that 6.3 million babies born worldwide died before the age of 5, and approximately 9.2% of these deaths were due to diarrheal diseases 2, 3 in simple, accessible ways, and effective treatment can reduce diarrhea-related mortality and make hospital admissions unnecessary, and the role of mothers is the most important 4. Since the presentation of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) in 1979, mortality has reduced. Diarrhea has had a steady downward trend 5. If mothers who have children under 5 years of age, used correctly ORS, they could easily resolve the problem of dehydration in acute diarrhea 6. Mothers didn’t use correctly ORS because of their Low literacy and lack of knowledge and wrong attitude about ORT7. Some health care workers provide mothers’ required equipments, regardless of their educational needs, and mothers may not use ORS. In this study, health workers identified mothers' educational needs and subsequently they trained them about using ORS at home in acute diarrhea in children under 5 years of age


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. e0009307
Author(s):  
Amy C. Morrison ◽  
Julia Schwarz ◽  
Jennie L. Mckenney ◽  
Jhonny Cordova ◽  
Jennifer E. Rios ◽  
...  

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have the potential to identify infectious diseases quickly, minimize disease transmission, and could complement and improve surveillance and control of infectious and vector-borne diseases during outbreaks. The U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Joint Science and Technology Office (DTRA-JSTO) program set out to develop novel point-of-need RDTs for infectious diseases and deploy them for home use with no training. The aim of this formative study was to address two questions: 1) could community members in Iquitos, Peru and Phnom Penh, Cambodia competently use RDTs of different levels of complexity at home with visually based instructions provided, and 2) if an RDT were provided at no cost, would it be used at home if family members displayed febrile symptoms? Test kits with written and video (Peru only) instructions were provided to community members (Peru [n = 202]; Cambodia [n = 50]) or community health workers (Cambodia [n = 45]), and trained observers evaluated the competency level for each of the several steps required to successfully operate one of two multiplex RDTs on themselves or other consenting participant (i.e., family member). In Iquitos, >80% of residents were able to perform 11/12 steps and 7/15 steps for the two- and five-pathogen test, respectively. Competency in Phnom Penh never reached 80% for any of the 12 or 15 steps for either test; the percentage of participants able to perform a step ranged from 26–76% and 23–72%, for the two- and five-pathogen tests, respectively. Commercially available NS1 dengue rapid tests were distributed, at no cost, to households with confirmed exposure to dengue or Zika virus; of 14 febrile cases reported, six used the provided RDT. Our findings support the need for further implementation research on the appropriate level of instructions or training needed for diverse devices in different settings, as well as how to best integrate RDTs into existing local public health and disease surveillance programs at a large scale.


10.2196/16426 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e16426
Author(s):  
Shababa B Matin ◽  
Allison Wallingford ◽  
Shicheng Xu ◽  
Natalie Ng ◽  
Anthony Ho ◽  
...  

Background A shortage of community health workers to triage sick neonates and poor recognition of neonatal illness by mothers contribute significantly toward neonatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries. Providing low-resource communities with the tools and knowledge to recognize signs of neonatal distress can lead to early care-seeking behavior. To empower and educate mothers to recognize signs of neonatal illness, we developed a neonatal health assessment device consisting of a smartphone app and a wearable sensor (the NeMo system). Objective The aim of this study was to determine if mothers in rural Uganda were willing and able to use the NeMo system during the first week of their infant’s life. We also assessed mothers’ responses to the device’s recommendation to seek care. Methods A total of 20 mothers were enrolled in the study after giving birth in the Iganga District Hospital. Each mother was trained to use the NeMo system to assess her infant for signs of illness before leaving the hospital and was given the NeMo system to use at home for 1 week. Throughout the week, the smartphone tracked the mothers’ usage of NeMo, and the study team visited twice to observe mothers’ ability to use NeMo. Each mother was interviewed at the end of 1 week to gather qualitative feedback on her experience with the NeMo system. Results In total, 18 mothers completed the study; 2 mothers were withdrawn during the week because of extenuating health circumstances. Moreover, 1 day after enrollment and training, 75% (15/20) of mothers used NeMo properly with no mistakes. 3 days after enrollment and training, only 1 mother placed the wearable sensor improperly on her infant. On the final study day, only 1 mother connected the device improperly. Mothers used NeMo an average of 11.67 (SD 5.70) times on their own at home during the 5 full study days. Although the frequency of use per day decreased from day 1 to day 5 of the study (P=.04), 72% (13/18) of mothers used NeMo at least once per day. In total, 64% (9/14) of mothers who received an alert from the NeMo system to seek care for their infants either called the health care professional working with the study team or reused the system immediately and found no danger signs. All 18 mothers agreed or strongly agreed that the NeMo system was easy to use and helped them know when to seek care for their babies. Conclusions NeMo is a feasible and acceptable tool to aid mothers in rural Uganda to assess their infant’s health.


Author(s):  
Filina I.A. ◽  
Ustinova L.P. ◽  
Fomicheva S.I.

By surveying clients of pharmacy organizations, we've analyzed quality of service. It was found that pharmaceu-tical specialists do not always inform pharmacy visitors about the regimen and doses of the drug (MP), the rules for storing it at home, and about interactions with other drugs; most buyers find it difficult to answer the question of what is the International Nonproprietary Name of a Medicinal Product (INN) and how synonyms and ana-logues differ from each other; visitors to pharmacies are not always provided with information about the availa-bility of medicinal products from different manufacturers and medicinal products with different prices; in most cas-es, if the secondary packaging is violated, the pharmacy customers are not given instructions (a copy of the in-structions) on the use of the dispensed drug. A standard operational procedure "Order of realization of medicines without a prescription" was developed on the basis of received data.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Willink ◽  
Karen Davis ◽  
Deirdre M Johnston ◽  
Betty Black ◽  
Melissa Reuland ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Objectives People with dementia (PWD) represent some of the highest-need and highest-cost individuals living in the community. Maximizing Independence (MIND) at Home is a potentially cost-effective and scalable home-based dementia care coordination program that uses trained, nonclinical community workers as the primary contact between the PWD and their care partner, supported by a multidisciplinary clinical team with expertise in dementia care. Research Design and Methods Cost of care management services based on actual time spent by care management personnel over first 12 months of MIND at Home intervention was calculated for 342 MIND at Home recipients from Baltimore, Maryland and surrounding areas participating in a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) funded Health Care Innovation Award demonstration project. Difference-in-differences analysis of claims-based Medicaid spending of 120 dually-eligible MIND at Home participants with their propensity score matched comparison group (n = 360). Results The average cost per enrollee per month was $110, or $1,320 per annum. Medicaid expenditures of dually-eligible participants grew 1.12 percentage points per quarter more slowly than that of the matched comparison group. Most savings came from slower growth in inpatient and long-term nursing home use. Net of the cost of the 5-year MIND at Home intervention, 5-year Medicaid savings are estimated at $7,052 per beneficiary, a 1.12-fold return on investment. Discussion and Implications Managed care plans with the flexibility to engage community health workers could benefit from a low-cost, high-touch intervention to meet the needs of enrollees with dementia. Limitations for using and reimbursing community health workers exist in Medicare fee-for-service, which CMS should address to maximize benefit for PWD.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e038282
Author(s):  
Hafizah Jusril ◽  
Iwan Ariawan ◽  
Rita Damayanti ◽  
Lutfan Lazuardi ◽  
Miriam Musa ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo assess the contribution of a digital health real-time monitoring platform towards the achievement of coverage targets during a national immunisation campaign in Indonesia.InterventionsA digital health platform was introduced to facilitate real-time reporting and data visualisation. Health workers submitted reports of children immunised each day by geolocation using mobile phones. Automated reports were generated for programme managers at all levels to enable early responses to coverage gaps.MethodsRisk profiles were generated for each district to assess precampaign immunisation programme performance. Digital health platform use and progress towards targets were monitored continuously throughout the campaign. Study outcomes were total coverage and time to achieve full (100%) coverage. Kaplan-Meier, Cox and linear regression analyses were used to estimate the associations and outcomes after adjusting for district risk profiles. A complementary qualitative assessment explored user experiences and acceptance through interviews with vaccinators and programme managers in provinces and districts selected through multistage random sampling.ResultsBetween August and December 2018, 6462 health facilities registered to use the digital health platform across 28 provinces and 395 districts. After adjusting for precampaign district risk profile and intracampaign delays due to vaccine hesitancy, districts with greater platform utilisation demonstrated higher coverage overall (R2=0.28, p<0.0001) and a shorter interval to achieving full coverage (>75% reporting compliance; Risk Ratio 15.4, 95% CI 5.8 to 40.6). Stronger effects were observed among districts experiencing implementation delays due to vaccine hesitancy. Results from 106 key informant interviews conducted in 6 provinces and 18 districts suggest high degrees of acceptability, ease of use and satisfaction.ConclusionA digital health platform introduced for real-time monitoring of a national immunisation campaign in Indonesia was feasible, well liked and associated with improved problem solving and programme performance, particularly among districts affected by vaccine hesitancy.Trial registration numberISRCTN10850448.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-278
Author(s):  
Angshuman Kashyap ◽  
Sangeeta Shrivastava ◽  
Pradeep Krishnatray

Vast majority of parents continue to immunize their children against deadly infectious diseases. However, of late, growing number of them in both developed and developing nations have refused vaccination forcing the World Health Organization to declare vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten major threats to global health. This research reviews literature published in the last few years to understand and explain the phenomenon. It identifies 10 reasons for people’s reluctance for vaccination: parental concerns, perceived disease susceptibility, parent–provider relationship, government policies, role of school authorities, weak interpersonal communication (IPC) skills of health workers, religious beliefs, role of media, social media and information on vaccines, and lack of trust. The review categorizes parents who hesitate or refuse vaccination into four categories: obedients, ditherers, doubters and defiants. Finally, it summarizes recommendations and steps that researchers and policy makers have made to stem the growing concerns regarding vaccine hesitancy.


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