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Uushona SI, Sheehama JA, Iita H. Sociocultural factors that influence the prevention of malaria in Ohangwena region, Namibia. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2022; 14:e1-e10. [PMID: 36073126 PMCID: PMC9453133 DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v14i1.3524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Namibia is undergoing an epidemiological transition after decline in local transmission of malaria, and the country is now in a position to move towards eliminating local transmission by 2030. However, malaria prevalence cannot be adequately explained from medical and modern prevention points of view alone. The persistence of malaria might appear as a result of not recognising sociocultural factors that seem useful in the prevention of malaria, Hence, studies on sociocultural factors are limited. Aim The aim of this study was to describe the sociocultural factors that influence the prevention of malaria in Ohangwena region. Setting The study was conducted in Ohangwena region of northern Namibia. Methods This study was a cross-sectional study and a mixed methods, convergent parallel design was employed. Results The major theme revealed that traditional prevention methods of malaria are widely available in rural communities. The best accepted traditional prevention methods include tumbleweed, bitter bush and animal dung. Quantitative findings indicated that 67.0% of participants felt that nets are expensive. Key barriers included the long distance to access health facilities (29.1%), long waiting times (25.8%) and the lack of money to pay for services and transport (22.5%). Conclusion The limited access to and cost of Western prevention methods minimise protection because of priority and resource allocations, but it could be mitigated with the use of locally available traditional prevention practices used for many years in curbing malaria. There is a need to create awareness about socioculturally congruent malaria care. Contribution This study has revealed the need to combine standard prevention with traditional prevention practices in the fight against malaria, and it intensified research focusing on interventions that address sociocultural factors for the prevention of malaria in endemic regions. In addition, part of the novelty of the study is establishing the need to test the efficacy of traditional practices used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selma I Uushona
- Department of Community and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Namibia, Oshakati.
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Watts C, Atieli H, Alacapa J, Lee MC, Zhou G, Githeko A, Yan G, Wiseman V. Rethinking the economic costs of hospitalization for malaria: accounting for the comorbidities of malaria patients in western Kenya. Malar J 2021; 20:429. [PMID: 34717637 PMCID: PMC8557520 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03958-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria causes significant mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa, especially among children under five years of age and places a huge economic burden on individuals and health systems. While this burden has been assessed previously, few studies have explored how malaria comorbidities affect inpatient costs. This study in a malaria endemic area in Western Kenya, assessed the total treatment costs per malaria episode including comorbidities in children and adults. METHODS Total economic costs of malaria hospitalizations were calculated from a health system and societal perspective. Patient-level data were collected from patients admitted with a malaria diagnosis to a county-level hospital between June 2016 and May 2017. All treatment documented in medical records were included as health system costs. Patient and household costs included direct medical and non-medical expenses, and indirect costs due to productivity losses. RESULTS Of the 746 patients admitted with a malaria diagnosis, 64% were female and 36% were male. The mean age was 14 years (median 7 years). The mean length of stay was three days. The mean health system cost per patient was Kenyan Shilling (KSh) 4288 (USD 42.0) (95% confidence interval (CI) 95% CI KSh 4046-4531). The total household cost per patient was KSh 1676 (USD 16.4) (95% CI KSh 1488-1864) and consisted of: KSh 161 (USD1.6) medical costs; KSh 728 (USD 7.1) non-medical costs; and KSh 787 (USD 7.7) indirect costs. The total societal cost (health system and household costs) per patient was KSh 5964 (USD 58.4) (95% CI KSh 5534-6394). Almost a quarter of patients (24%) had a reported comorbidity. The most common malaria comorbidities were chest infections, diarrhoea, and anaemia. The inclusion of comorbidities compared to patients with-out comorbidities led to a 46% increase in societal costs (health system costs increased by 43% and patient and household costs increased by 54%). CONCLUSIONS The economic burden of malaria is increased by comorbidities which are associated with longer hospital stays and higher medical costs to patients and the health system. Understanding the full economic burden of malaria is critical if future malaria control interventions are to protect access to care, especially by the poor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Watts
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. .,Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia.
| | | | - Jason Alacapa
- The School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ming-Chieh Lee
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Guofa Zhou
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Andrew Githeko
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Guiyun Yan
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Virginia Wiseman
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Chandna A, Osborn J, Bassat Q, Bell D, Burza S, D'Acremont V, Fernandez-Carballo BL, Kain KC, Mayxay M, Wiens M, Dittrich S. Anticipating the future: prognostic tools as a complementary strategy to improve care for patients with febrile illnesses in resource-limited settings. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:bmjgh-2021-006057. [PMID: 34330761 PMCID: PMC8327814 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In low-income and middle-income countries, most patients with febrile illnesses present to peripheral levels of the health system where diagnostic capacity is very limited. In these contexts, accurate risk stratification can be particularly impactful, helping to guide allocation of scarce resources to ensure timely and tailored care. However, reporting of prognostic research is often imprecise and few prognostic tests or algorithms are translated into clinical practice. Here, we review the often-conflated concepts of prognosis and diagnosis, with a focus on patients with febrile illnesses. Drawing on a recent global stakeholder consultation, we apply these concepts to propose three use-cases for prognostic tools in the management of febrile illnesses in resource-limited settings: (1) guiding referrals from the community to higher-level care; (2) informing resource allocation for patients admitted to hospital and (3) identifying patients who may benefit from closer follow-up post-hospital discharge. We explore the practical implications for new technologies and reflect on the challenges and knowledge gaps that must be addressed before this approach could be incorporated into routine care settings. Our intention is that these use-cases, alongside other recent initiatives, will help to promote a harmonised yet contextualised approach for prognostic research in febrile illness. We argue that this is especially important given the heterogeneous settings in which care is often provided for patients with febrile illnesses living in low-income and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Chandna
- Cambodia Oxford Medical Research Unit, Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Cambodia .,Centre for Tropical Medicine & Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jennifer Osborn
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique.,ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain.,Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Dé, Universitat de Barcelona, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain.,Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Bell
- Independent Consultant, Issaquah, Washington, USA
| | | | - Valérie D'Acremont
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Kevin C Kain
- Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mayfong Mayxay
- Centre for Tropical Medicine & Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Microbiology Department, Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.,Institute of Research and Education Development (IRED), University of Health Sciences, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Matthew Wiens
- Center for International Child Health, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.,Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Walimu, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sabine Dittrich
- Centre for Tropical Medicine & Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland
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