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Community health worker knowledge and perceptions of neonatal jaundice in Kumasi, Ghana.
- Source :
-
Discover Public Health . 9/27/2024, Vol. 21 Issue 1, p1-10. 10p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
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]
- 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
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 30050774
- Volume :
- 21
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Discover Public Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 179970840
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-024-00235-5