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Muhumuza Kananura R. Unmasking the complexities of healthcare access in low-resource settings: a health systems approach to obstetric and under-5 healthcare in rural settings of Eastern Uganda. Glob Health Action 2024; 17:2397163. [PMID: 39246167 PMCID: PMC11391869 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2024.2397163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Access to appropriate obstetric and under-5 healthcare services in low-resource settings is a challenge in countries with high mortality rates. However, the interplay of multiple factors within an ecological system affects the effectiveness of the health system in reaching those in need. OBJECTIVE This study examined how multiple factors concurrently affect access to obstetric and child healthcare services in resource-poor settings. METHODS The research used social autopsies [in-depth interview] with mothers who experienced newborn death [n = 29], focus group discussions [n = 8] with mothers [n = 32], and fathers [n = 28] of children aged 6-59 months, and the author's field observations in Eastern Uganda's rural settings. The research employed narrative and inductive thematic analysis, guided by concepts of social interactions, behaviour, and health institutional systems drawn from system theory. RESULTS The study unmasked multiple concurrent barriers to healthcare access at distinct levels. Within families, the influence of mothers-in-law and gender dynamics constrains women's healthcare-seeking autonomy and agency. At the community level, poor transport system, characterised by long distances and challenging road conditions, consistently impede healthcare access. At the facility level, attitudes, responsiveness, and service delivery of health workers critically affect healthcare access. Negative experiences at health facilities profoundly discourage the community from seeking future health services. CONCLUSION The findings emphasise the persistent influence of structural and social factors that, although well documented, are often overlooked and continue to limit women's agency and autonomy in healthcare access. Enhancing universal access to appropriate healthcare services requires comprehensive health systems interventions that concurrently address the healthcare access barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rornald Muhumuza Kananura
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre of Excellence for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
- School of Economics and Political Science, Department of International Development, Houghton St, London, UK
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Bukhari T, Gichuhi J, Mbare O, Ochwal VA, Fillinger U, Herren JK. Willingness to accept and participate in a Microsporidia MB-based mosquito release strategy: a community-based rapid assessment in western Kenya. Malar J 2024; 23:113. [PMID: 38643165 PMCID: PMC11031974 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04941-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microsporidia MB, an endosymbiont naturally found in Anopheles mosquitoes inhibits transmission of Plasmodium and is a promising candidate for a transmission-blocking strategy that may involve mosquito release. A rapid assessment was carried out to develop insight into sociodemographic factors, public health concerns, and malaria awareness, management, and prevention practices with the willingness to accept and participate in Microsporidia MB-based transmission-blocking strategy to develop an informed stakeholder engagement process. METHODS The assessment consisted of a survey conducted in two communities in western Kenya that involved administering a questionnaire consisting of structured, semi-structured, and open questions to 8108 household heads. RESULTS There was an overall high level of willingness to accept (81%) and participate in the implementation of the strategy (96%). Although the willingness to accept was similar in both communities, Ombeyi community was more willing to participate (OR 22, 95% CI 13-36). Women were less willing to accept (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-0.9) compared to men due to fear of increased mosquito bites near homes. Household heads with incomplete primary education were more willing to accept (OR 1.6, 95% CI 01.2-2.2) compared to those educated to primary level or higher. Perceiving malaria as a moderate or low public health issue was also associated with a lower willingness to accept and participate. Experience of > 3 malaria cases in the family over the last six months and knowledge that malaria is transmitted by only mosquito bites, increased the willingness to accept but reduced the willingness to participate. Awareness of malaria control methods based on mosquitoes that cannot transmit malaria increases the willingness to participate. CONCLUSION The study showed a high level of willingness to accept and participate in a Microsporidia MB-based strategy in the community, which is influenced by several factors such as community, disease risk perception, gender, education level, knowledge, and experience of malaria. Further research will need to focus on understanding the concerns of women, educated, and employed community members, and factors that contribute to the lower disease risk perception. This improved understanding will lead to the development of an effective communication strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tullu Bukhari
- Human Health, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Joseph Gichuhi
- Human Health, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Oscar Mbare
- Human Health, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Victoria A Ochwal
- Human Health, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ulrike Fillinger
- Human Health, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jeremy K Herren
- Human Health, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
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Tack B, Vita D, Nketo J, Wasolua N, Ndengila N, Herssens N, Ntangu E, Kasidiko G, Nkoji-Tunda G, Phoba MF, Im J, Jeon HJ, Marks F, Toelen J, Lunguya O, Jacobs J. Health itinerary-related survival of children under-five with severe malaria or bloodstream infection, DR Congo. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011156. [PMID: 36877726 PMCID: PMC10019685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prompt appropriate treatment reduces mortality of severe febrile illness in sub-Saharan Africa. We studied the health itinerary of children under-five admitted to the hospital with severe febrile illness in a setting endemic for Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria and invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella infections, identified delaying factors and assessed their associations with in-hospital death. METHODOLOGY Health itinerary data of this cohort study were collected during 6 months by interviewing caretakers of children (>28 days - <5 years) admitted with suspected bloodstream infection to Kisantu district hospital, DR Congo. The cohort was followed until discharge to assess in-hospital death. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS From 784 enrolled children, 36.1% were admitted >3 days after fever onset. This long health itinerary was more frequent in children with bacterial bloodstream infection (52.9% (63/119)) than in children with severe Pf malaria (31.0% (97/313)). Long health itinerary was associated with in-hospital death (OR = 2.1, p = 0.007) and two thirds of deaths occurred during the first 3 days of admission. Case fatality was higher in bloodstream infection (22.8% (26/114)) compared to severe Pf malaria (2.6%, 8/309). Bloodstream infections were mainly (74.8% (89/119)) caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella. Bloodstream infections occurred in 20/43 children who died in-hospital before possible enrolment and non-typhoidal Salmonella caused 16 out of these 20 bloodstream infections. Delaying factors associated with in-hospital death were consulting traditional, private and/or multiple providers, rural residence, prehospital intravenous therapy, and prehospital overnight stays. Use of antibiotics reserved for hospital use, intravenous therapy and prehospital overnight stays were most frequent in the private sector. CONCLUSIONS Long health itineraries delayed appropriate treatment of bloodstream infections in children under-five and were associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Non-typhoidal Salmonella were the main cause of bloodstream infection and had high case fatality. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT04289688.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bieke Tack
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Daniel Vita
- Hôpital Général de Référence Saint Luc de Kisantu, Kisantu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - José Nketo
- Zone de Santé Kisantu, Kisantu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Naomie Wasolua
- Hôpital Général de Référence Saint Luc de Kisantu, Kisantu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Nathalie Ndengila
- Hôpital Général de Référence Saint Luc de Kisantu, Kisantu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Natacha Herssens
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Emmanuel Ntangu
- Hôpital Général de Référence Saint Luc de Kisantu, Kisantu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Grace Kasidiko
- Hôpital Général de Référence Saint Luc de Kisantu, Kisantu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Gaëlle Nkoji-Tunda
- Department of Microbiology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Department of Medical Biology, University Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Marie-France Phoba
- Department of Microbiology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Department of Medical Biology, University Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Justin Im
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyon Jin Jeon
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Florian Marks
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Madagascar Institute for Vaccine Research, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Jaan Toelen
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Octavie Lunguya
- Department of Microbiology, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Department of Medical Biology, University Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jan Jacobs
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Babatunde GB, Akintola O. Caregivers' health-seeking behaviour for children participating in an integrated school health programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2023; 15:e1-e8. [PMID: 36861919 PMCID: PMC9982495 DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Caregivers are active members of the healthcare team, and the uniqueness of their role in caring for a sick child is holistic, as no other healthcare team member is consistently aware of all the facets of the child's life. The integrated school health programme (ISHP) aims to improve access to healthcare services and promote equity for school-going children by delivering comprehensive healthcare services. However, not much attention has been paid to understanding caregivers' health-seeking experiences within the context of the ISHP. AIM This study sought to understand caregivers' health-seeking behaviour for their children participating in the ISHP. SETTING Three low-resource communities were chosen within the eThekwini District of the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. METHODS This study utilised a qualitative research design. We recruited 17 caregivers using purposive sampling. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Caregivers explored multiple means of care, ranging from managing the children's health conditions based on previous experiences to visiting traditional healers and administering traditional medicines. Caregivers delayed health seeking due to low literacy levels and financial barriers. CONCLUSION Although ISHP has expanded its coverage and the range of services provided, the study suggests the need to implement interventions focused on providing support to caregivers of sick children within the ISHP context.Contribution: The findings of the study highlight the need to develop potential schemes to address transportation barriers to accessing healthcare services for school-going children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gbotemi B. Babatunde
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Olagoke Akintola
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
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5
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Mabetha K, De Wet-Billings NC, Odimegwu CO. Healthcare beliefs and practices of kin caregivers in South Africa: implications for child survival. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:486. [PMID: 34022877 PMCID: PMC8140432 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06357-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appropriate health-seeking practices may have a positive influence on child survival, particularly when practiced by kin caregivers of children who are below the age of 5 years. While literature has shown that children who are raised in kinship care often present with poor health outcomes and often have unmet healthcare needs, the health-seeking behaviours and practices of the children's kin caregivers that ultimately influence these health outcomes remain largely unknown. In this paper, we explored the healthcare beliefs and practices of kin caregivers in South Africa on child survival. METHODS Overall, 12 structured interviews were conducted with all the participants. Six [6] interviews were conducted in the Eastern Cape province and 6 were conducted in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The sample of participants was obtained by seeking permission from the child welfare authorities in the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) to assist in identifying a sample of the kin-caregivers who have provided primary care to children below the age of 5. The structured interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic content analysis. After thematic content analysis was carried out, transcripts were given case numbers and then imported into NViVo version 11 for analysis and interpretation of the findings. RESULTS The healthcare seeking behaviours and poor use of healthcare services of the caregivers were largely influenced by their notions and perceptions of health and illness. The notions and perceptions that the caregivers hold about the health statuses of the children placed under their care and illness were found to be largely culturally determined and largely influenced by preconceptions and certain healthcare beliefs. Increased reliance on traditional herbs, Notion of witchcraft and Faith healing emerged as key factors that influence health-seeking practices and beliefs of kin caregivers, thus influencing under-five mortality. CONCLUSION Kin caregivers should be equipped with the necessary guidance, resources and training that facilitate the successful fulfilment of the caregiving role, given the number of unmet needs and challenges that they face. This will in turn translate into positive child health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khuthala Mabetha
- Department of Demography and Population Studies, Schools of Public Health and Social Sciences, 1st Floor, Robert Sobukwe Building, East Campus, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa.
| | - Nicole C De Wet-Billings
- Department of Demography and Population Studies, Schools of Public Health and Social Sciences, 1st Floor, Robert Sobukwe Building, East Campus, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa
| | - Clifford O Odimegwu
- Department of Demography and Population Studies, Schools of Public Health and Social Sciences, 1st Floor, Robert Sobukwe Building, East Campus, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa
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Svege S, Nkosi-Gondwe T, Lange S. "Satanism is witchcraft's younger sibling": Changing perceptions of natural and supernatural anaemia causality in Malawian children. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250661. [PMID: 33930023 PMCID: PMC8087048 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In countries of sub-Saharan Africa, many children are admitted to hospital with severe forms of anaemia. The late hospital admissions of anaemic children contribute significantly to child morbidity and mortality in these countries. This qualitative study explores local health beliefs and traditional treatment practices that may hinder timely seeking of hospital care for anaemic children. In January of 2019, nine focus group discussions were conducted with 90 participants in rural communities of Malawi. The participants represented four groups of caregivers; mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers of children under the age of five. The Malawian medical landscape is comprised of formal and informal therapeutic alternatives–and this myriad of modalities is likely to complicate the healthcare choices of caregivers. When dealing with child illness, many participants reported how they would follow a step-by-step, ‘multi-try’ therapeutic pathway where a combination of biomedical and traditional treatment options were sought at varying time points depending on the perceived cause and severity of symptoms. The participants linked anaemia to naturalistic (malaria, poor nutrition and the local illnesses kakozi and kapamba), societal (the local illness msempho) and supernatural or personalistic (witchcraft and Satanism) causes. Most participants agreed that anaemia due to malaria and poor nutrition should be treated at hospital. As for local illnesses, many grandparents suggested herbal treatment offered by traditional healers, while the majority of parents would opt for hospital care. However, participants across all age groups claimed that anaemia caused by witchcraft and Satanism could only be dealt with by traditional healers or prayer, respectively. The multiple theories of anaemia causality combined with extensive use of and trust in traditional and complementary medicine may explain the frequent delay in admittance of anaemic children to hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Svege
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Thandile Nkosi-Gondwe
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- School of Public Health & Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Siri Lange
- Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Chr. Michelsen Institute, Bergen, Norway
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Price J, Willcox M, Dlamini V, Khosa A, Khanyile P, Seeley J, Harnden A, Kahn K, Hinton L. Care-seeking during fatal childhood illness in rural South Africa: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e043652. [PMID: 33926978 PMCID: PMC8094335 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to better understand reasons why children in South Africa die at home, including caregivers' care-seeking experiences, decision-making, choice of treatment provider and barriers to accessing care during a child's final illness. DESIGN This qualitative study included semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with caregivers of children who died below the age of 5 years. Data were thematically analysed, and key findings compared with the Pathways to Survival Framework-a model frequently used in the study of child mortality. An adapted model was developed. SETTING Two rural health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) sites in South Africa-the Agincourt HDSS and the Africa Health Research Institute. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-eight caregivers of deceased children (29 participated in in-depth interviews and 9 were participants in two focus group discussions). Caregivers were purposively sampled to ensure maximum variation across place of death, child age at death, household socioeconomic status, maternal migration status and maternal HIV status. FINDINGS Although caregivers faced barriers in providing care to children (including insufficient knowledge and poor transport), almost all did seek care from the formal health system. Negative experiences in health facilities did not deter care-seeking, but most respondents still received poor quality care and were not given adequate safety-netting advice. Traditional healers were only consulted as a last resort when other approaches had failed. CONCLUSION Barriers to accessing healthcare disrupt the workings of previously accepted care-seeking models. The adapted model presented in this paper more realistically reflects care-seeking experiences and decision-making during severe childhood illness in rural South Africa and helps explain both the persistence of home deaths despite seeking healthcare, and the impact of a child's death on care-seeking in future childhood illness. This model can be used as the basis for developing interventions to reduce under-5 mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Price
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Merlin Willcox
- Primary Care Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Audrey Khosa
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute, Somkhele, South Africa
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Anthony Harnden
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kathleen Kahn
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lisa Hinton
- THIS Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Murdoch J, Curran R, Cornick R, Picken S, Bachmann M, Bateman E, Simelane ML, Fairall L. Addressing the quality and scope of paediatric primary care in South Africa: evaluating contextual impacts of the introduction of the Practical Approach to Care Kit for children (PACK Child). BMC Health Serv Res 2020; 20:479. [PMID: 32471431 PMCID: PMC7257217 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-05201-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite significant reductions in mortality, preventable and treatable conditions remain leading causes of death and illness in children in South Africa. The PACK Child intervention, comprising clinical decision support tool (guide), training strategy and health systems strengthening components, was developed to expand on WHO’s Integrated Management of Childhood Illness programme, extending care of children under 5 years to those aged 0–13 years, those with chronic conditions needing regular follow-up, integration of curative and preventive measures and routine care of the well child. In 2017–2018, PACK Child was piloted in 10 primary healthcare facilities in the Western Cape Province. Here we report findings from an investigation into the contextual features of South African primary care that shaped how clinicians delivered the PACK Child intervention within clinical consultations. Methods Process evaluation using linguistic ethnographic methodology which provides analytical tools for investigating human behaviour, and the shifting meaning of talk and text within context. Methods included semi-structured interviews, focus groups, ethnographic observation, audio-recorded consultations and documentary analysis. Analysis focused on how mapped contextual features structured clinician-caregiver interactions. Results Primary healthcare facilities demonstrated an institutionalised orientation to minimising risk upheld by provincial documentation, providing curative episodic care to children presenting with acute symptoms, and preventive care including immunisations, feeding and growth monitoring, all in children 5 years or younger. Children with chronic illnesses such as asthma rarely receive routine care. These contextual features constrained the ability of clinicians to use the PACK Child guide to facilitate diagnosis of long-term conditions, elicit and manage psychosocial issues, and navigate use of the guide alongside provincial documentation. Conclusion Our findings provide evidence that PACK Child is catalysing a transition to an approach that strikes a balance between assessing and minimising risk on the day of acute presentation and a larger remit of care for children over time. However, optimising success of the intervention requires reviewing priorities for paediatric care which will facilitate enhanced skills, knowledge and deployment of clinical staff to better address acute illnesses and long-term health conditions of children of all ages, as well as complex psychosocial issues surrounding the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Murdoch
- School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Edith Cavell Building, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Robyn Curran
- Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, Mowbray, 7700, South Africa
| | - Ruth Cornick
- Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, Mowbray, 7700, South Africa.,Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, South Africa
| | - Sandy Picken
- Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, Mowbray, 7700, South Africa
| | - Max Bachmann
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Eric Bateman
- Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, Mowbray, 7700, South Africa
| | - Makhosazana Lungile Simelane
- Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, Mowbray, 7700, South Africa
| | - Lara Fairall
- Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, Mowbray, 7700, South Africa.,Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, South Africa.,King's Global Health Institute, King's College London, London, SE1 9NH, UK
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Dougherty L, Gilroy K, Olayemi A, Ogesanmola O, Ogaga F, Nweze C, Banerjee J, Oduenyi C, Pacqué M. Understanding factors influencing care seeking for sick children in Ebonyi and Kogi States, Nigeria. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:746. [PMID: 32448259 PMCID: PMC7245913 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-08536-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nigeria has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world, with an estimated 750,000 deaths annually among children under age five. The majority of these deaths are due to pneumonia, malaria, or diarrhea. Many parents do not seek sick-child care from trained, biomedical providers, contributing to this high rate of mortality. Methods This qualitative study explores factors enabling or preventing parents from seeking care for sick under-five children in Nigeria’s Kogi and Ebonyi states, including gender-related roles and social norms. Interviews were conducted with parents of sick under-five children and service providers, and focus group discussions were held with community leaders to assess how care-seeking behavior was influenced by four modes from the Colvin et al. conceptual framework for household decision-making and pathways to care. These include (1) caregivers’ recognition and response to illness, (2) seeking advice and negotiating access within the family, (3) making use of community-based treatment options, and (4) accessing biomedical services. Results Parents were found to have a general understanding of illness symptoms but did not always attribute illness to biomedical causes. Intra-household decision-making processes were shaped by gender dynamics between men and women, and were found to have great effects on decisions to seek care. Use of traditional medicine and self-treatment were found to be common first steps in treatment before turning to the biomedical care system. Once the decision to seek biomedical care was taken, the route of seeking care varied between seeking care at chemists and then continuing to health facilities or starting with a health facility and then accessing prescriptions from a chemist. Conclusion We conclude that care-seeking decisions do not follow a linear process; that intra-household decision-making processes particularly among parents should not be underestimated in addressing sick-child care seeking; and that, given the role of mothers as primary caregivers, their knowledge in illness recognition and agency in care-seeking decision-making, and seeking biomedical care, is deserving of future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Dougherty
- Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP), John Snow, Inc. (JSI), 2733 Crystal Dr 4th Floor, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA.
| | - Kate Gilroy
- Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP), John Snow, Inc. (JSI), 2733 Crystal Dr 4th Floor, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
| | - Abimbola Olayemi
- Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP), John Snow, Inc. (JSI), 2733 Crystal Dr 4th Floor, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
| | | | - Felix Ogaga
- Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP), John Snow, Inc. (JSI), 2733 Crystal Dr 4th Floor, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
| | - Chinwe Nweze
- Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP), John Snow, Inc. (JSI), 2733 Crystal Dr 4th Floor, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
| | | | | | - Michel Pacqué
- Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP), John Snow, Inc. (JSI), 2733 Crystal Dr 4th Floor, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
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Yaya S, Bishwajit G. Trends in the prevalence and care-seeking behaviour for acute respiratory infections among Ugandan infants. Glob Health Res Policy 2019; 4:9. [PMID: 30976661 PMCID: PMC6440134 DOI: 10.1186/s41256-019-0100-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) as a group of diseases/symptoms constitute a leading cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa where over 10 % of all children die before reaching their fifth birthday. Although the burden of ARIs is highest in the African countries, there is little evidence in the current literature regarding their prevalence and treatment seeking. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the secular trend in the prevalence of ARIs as well as their treatment seeking-behaviour among Ugandan infants. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on data from Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys (conducted between 1995 and 2016) on 26,974 singleton infants aged 0–5 months. Mothers (aged 15–49 years) were interviewed to collect information on the prevalence of recent occurrences of fever, cough and dyspnea. The adjusted trend in the prevalence and predictors of ARIs and care seeking were measured by multivariate regression methods. Results In 2016, the prevalence of fever, cough and dyspnea was respectively 36.23, 42.55 and 19.27%. The prevalence of all three symptoms has been declining steadily since 1995, and the percentage of children receiving treatment for fever/cough has also more than doubled during the same time. In multivariable analysis, several sociodemographic factors emerged as significant predictors of ARIs including child’s age and high birth order, mother’s age, educational level, occupation, intendedness status of the child, BMI, household wealth status, and place of residency. Conclusions The overall prevalence common ARIs (fever, cough, dyspnea) has been declining at a slow but steady rate, however, remains noticeably high in comparison with countries with similar level of per capita GDP in Africa. Findings of this study has important implications for health policy making regarding the prevention of ARIs among infants in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanni Yaya
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, 120, University Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Canada
| | - Ghose Bishwajit
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, 120, University Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Canada
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Alene M, Yismaw L, Berelie Y, Kassie B. Health care utilization for common childhood illnesses in rural parts of Ethiopia: evidence from the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:57. [PMID: 30642301 PMCID: PMC6332529 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6397-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Generally, health care utilization in developing countries is low particularly rural community have lower health care utilization. Despite this fact, little is known about the magnitude and determinants of health care utilization for common childhood illnesses in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the magnitude and to identify determinants of health care utilization for common childhood illnesses in the rural parts of Ethiopia. Methods For this study, data were obtained from the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey. A total of 1576 mothers of under-five children were included in the analysis. Data analysis was performed using R software. Both univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were fitted to identify the determinants of health care utilization. Variables with a 95% confidence interval for odds ratio excluding one were considered as significant determinants of the outcome. Results The findings of this study revealed that only half (49.7%) (95%CI: 46.1–53.4%), 40.9% (95%CI 37.6–44.2%), and 38.0% (95%CI: 34.7–41.4%) of the children utilized health care for diarrhea, fever, and cough, respectively. Children age between 12 and 23 months (AOR: 1.58, 95%CI: 1.08–2.31), maternal education (AOR: 1.96, 95%CI: 1.34–2.88), and giving birth at health facilities (AOR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.04–2.13) were found to be the determinants of health care utilization for diarrhea. Marital status (AOR: 0.25, 95%CI: 0.06–0.81), husbands’ education (AOR: 1.37, 95%CI: 1.01–1.86), and giving birth at health facilities (AOR: 1.51, 95%CI: 1.09–2.10) were factors significantly associated with health care utilization for fever. Children age between 12 and 23 months (AOR: 1.51, 95%CI: 1.03–2.22), maternal education (AOR: 1.70, 95%CI: 1.18–2.44), and giving birth at health facilities (AOR: 1.74, 95%CI: 1.23–2.46) were significantly associated with health care utilization for cough. Conclusions Low health care utilization for childhood illnesses was noticed. The health care utilization for diarrhea and cough was lower for children of ages between 0 and 11 months, mothers without formal education and home-delivered children’s. The health care utilization for fever was lower for separated parents, husbands without formal education, giving birth at home and from the poorest family. Programs to improve the educational status of a household are essential for better care utilization and children development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muluneh Alene
- Department of Statistics, Mizan-Tepi University, Teppi, Ethiopia.
| | - Leltework Yismaw
- Department of Public Health, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Yebelay Berelie
- Department of Statistics, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Bekalu Kassie
- Department of Midwifery, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
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Tlou B, Sartorius B, Tanser F. Effect of timing of mother's death on child survival in a rural HIV hyper-endemic South African population. BMC Public Health 2018; 18:1237. [PMID: 30400789 PMCID: PMC6220497 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-6152-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal mortality remains a tragedy and a key determinant for child survival. There is increasing evidence that the hazard ratio of demising for young children escalates after the death of their mothers, but few studies has been done in rural areas were HIV/AIDS is more prevalent. The aim of this study is to investigate the survival of children who lost their mothers soon or after their births in a rural setup with high HIV prevalence in South Africa. Methods This study used a data set from Africa Health Research Institute in rural South Africa.The study population comprised children (0–10 years of age) from 2000 to 2014. We employed a Cox regression modelling approach to estimate greatest temporal hazard of the child after the death of their mothers, accounting for the confounding influence of wealth index of the household and HIV status of the mother. Results We found 62,600 live births, and that 2191 children died when they were less than or equal to 10 years old. The mortality rates for < 5 and 5–9 years is 882.25 and 117.75 per 1000 live births respectively, with a maternal mortality rate of 447.3 deaths per 100,000 live births from 2000 to 2004. Child mortality risk was very high in less than 6 weeks after their mother’s death (HR 3.45 [95%CI: 1.3–6.54]), and decreased drastically after 3 years following her death (HR 0.8 [0.2–6.3]). This increased risk was more pronounced among children aged less than 1 month and living in poor households. Conclusions Children (less than 10 years) in rural households are at their highest risk of dying within 6 weeks of mother’s death and this risk decreases substantially after the highly vulnerable window. This indicates that the period of mother’s death does play a critical role on the survival of her children.Thus, understanding this risk and its timing in relation to a mother’s death is critical to guide interventions and stress the relevance of assessing the interaction between clinical care and socio-economic programs in addressing the needs of orphans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boikhutso Tlou
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Benn Sartorius
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Frank Tanser
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.,Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa.,Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa -CAPRISA, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.,Research Department of Infection & Population Health, University College London, London, UK
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