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Health beliefs of school-age rural children in podoconiosis-affected families: A qualitative study in Southern Ethiopia
- Source :
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 11, Iss 5, p e0005564 (2017), PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2017.
-
Abstract
- Background Several studies have suggested investigation of health beliefs in children to be an important pre-condition for primary prevention of disease. However, little effort has been made to understand these in the context of podoconiosis. This study therefore aimed to explore the health beliefs of school-age rural children in podoconiosis-affected families. Methodology/Principal findings A cross sectional qualitative study was conducted in March 2016 in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs), with a total of one hundred seventeen 9 to15-year-old children recruited from podoconiosis affected families. The study revealed various misconceptions regarding risk factors for podoconiosis. Most children believed barefoot exposure to dew, worms, snake bite, frog urine, other forms of poison, and contact with affected people to be major causes of the disease. Their knowledge about the role of heredity and that of long term barefoot exposure to irritant mineral particles was also weak. Though most participants correctly appraised their susceptibility to podoconiosis in relation to regular use of footwear and foot hygiene, others based their risk perceptions on factors they think beyond their control. They described several barriers to preventive behaviour, including uncomfortable footwear, shortage and poor adaptability of footwear for farm activities and sports, and shortage of soap for washing. Children also perceived low self-efficacy to practice preventive behaviour in spite of the barriers. Conclusion/Significance Health education interventions may enhance school-age children’s health literacy and be translated to preventive action. Overcoming practical challenges such as shortage of footwear and other hygiene facilities requires other forms of interventions such as livelihood strengthening activities. Linking podoconiosis-affected families with local governmental or non-governmental organizations providing socio-economic support for households may assist school-age children in those families to sustainably engage in preventive behaviours.<br />Author summary Podoconiosis is an example of a lifestyle-related disease that develops after childhood and affects millions of people with little experience of preventive behaviour. It is caused by prolonged barefoot exposure to irritant mineral particles, accompanied by inherited susceptibility. Children with a family history of podoconiosis are highly vulnerable to the disease. Several studies have underscored the importance of studying health beliefs in children for the early control of diseases that arise from risky behaviour and habits established in childhood, which continue into adulthood. This study attempted to explore the health beliefs of school-age children in podoconiosis affected families. The forms of health beliefs addressed in the present study were knowledge of podoconiosis risk factors and perceptions of severity of and susceptibility to the disease, benefits of and barriers to engaging in preventive actions such as footwear use and feet hygiene, and self-efficacy to perform preventive actions regardless of perceived barriers. Various forms of misconceptions and inaccurate risk perceptions were recorded. Participant children also reported several barriers that limited their engagement in preventive actions and low confidence to overcome them. These findings imply that school-age children at high risk of podoconiosis might benefit from an intervention that improves their knowledge about podoconiosis and enhances their self-efficacy to sustainably perform preventive behaviours.
- Subjects :
- Male
Rural Population
Gerontology
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Heredity
Physiology
Psychological intervention
Social Sciences
Walking
Pediatrics
Families
0302 clinical medicine
Sociology
Risk Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Medicine and Health Sciences
Public and Occupational Health
Elephantiasis
030212 general & internal medicine
Podoconiosis
Human Families
Child
Children
Health Education
Qualitative Research
lcsh:Public aspects of medicine
Child Health
Hygiene
Focus Groups
3. Good health
Infectious Diseases
Preventive action
Female
Health education
Research Article
Neglected Tropical Diseases
lcsh:Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
Adolescent
lcsh:RC955-962
030231 tropical medicine
Health literacy
Context (language use)
03 medical and health sciences
Environmental health
Parasitic Diseases
Genetics
medicine
Humans
Behavior
Biological Locomotion
business.industry
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Biology and Life Sciences
lcsh:RA1-1270
Tropical Diseases
medicine.disease
Focus group
Shoes
Cross-Sectional Studies
Age Groups
People and Places
Population Groupings
Ethiopia
business
Qualitative research
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19352735 and 19352727
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....974c46c79543ca21bb8efc7f48e7d8e6