1. Community health worker knowledge and perceptions of neonatal jaundice in Kumasi, Ghana.
- Author
-
Wolski, Ann, Moyer, Cheryl A., Amoah, Rexford, Otoo, Benjamin, Kaselitz, Elizabeth, and Bakari, Ashura
- Subjects
- *
CROSS-sectional method , *HEALTH attitudes , *QUALITATIVE research , *SICKLE cell anemia , *RESEARCH funding , *CULTURE , *INTERVIEWING , *PREMATURE infants , *PROFESSIONS , *SOUND recordings , *THEMATIC analysis , *LIVER diseases , *ATTITUDES of medical personnel , *RESEARCH methodology , *COMMUNITY health workers , *NEONATAL jaundice , *GROUNDED theory , *MEDICAL screening , *PSYCHOSOCIAL factors - Abstract
Background: Neonatal jaundice is a leading cause of death and disability among newborns in sub-Saharan Africa, due in large part to late identification of an otherwise treatable illness. The burden of NNJ recognition and care-seeking falls on infant caretakers and community health workers (CHWs), who are in charge of both maternal education and neonatal home visits. Objective: This study sought to understand community health workers' (CHW) knowledge and perceptions of community beliefs surrounding neonatal jaundice (NNJ), a treatable but potentially fatal condition prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: In this cross-sectional qualitative study, CHWs in Kumasi, Ghana, completed in-depth interviews with trained research assistants using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Results: Knowledge of NNJ varied widely among the 23 respondents: 74% knew NNJ could cause death, 57% knew how to screen for NNJ. 35% of CHWs favored home treatment (sunlight therapy or watchful waiting). Three main themes emerged: CHWs perceived that caregivers prefer home treatment, equating hospital care with death; sunlight and herbs are the most common home treatments; and caregivers attribute NNJ to supernatural causes, delaying jaundice diagnosis. Conclusion: Incomplete understanding of NNJ among trained CHWs and local communities will require improved education among both groups to improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF