This study describes community members’ knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), their attitudes and preventive practices. A mixed methods approach was used. A random sample of 1028 community members aged 15 - 65 year...This study describes community members’ knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), their attitudes and preventive practices. A mixed methods approach was used. A random sample of 1028 community members aged 15 - 65 years was interviewed in a quantitative survey. This was complemented with a qualitative study involving 24 opinion leaders who were carefully selected. The study was conducted in Kintampo North and South districts of Ghana from August 2014 to October 2014. 83% of respondents had heard of EVD, but 62.5% did not know the duration between the time of infection and onset of clinical symptoms. The most popular symptom mentioned spontaneously was bleeding through body orifices (48.6%). Majority of respondents mentioned handshake or skin contact as a mode of transmission (57.3%) and reduced contact with bats as a means to prevent the spread of EVD (58.1%). Knowledge of transmission of body fluids such as faeces, blood or urine was low (<10%), though this varied significantly by socio-demographic group. Majority (94%) of respondents acknowledged that EVD was a serious disease, however, only 58% saw themselves at risk. Current preventive behaviours included: improved hand hygiene (83%) and avoidance of handshakes and physical contact with people (81%). Community members in the Kintampo districts have high level of awareness of EVD, but important gaps in knowledge of EVD still exist, especially concerning body fluids as a mode of transmission. There is the need to intensify educational messages as part of Ghana’s preparedness towards a potential EVD outbreak.展开更多
In lower middle-income countries like Ghana, it is common to find low contraceptive use among adolescents with corresponding high pregnancy outcomes. Evidence points to the fact that the use of contraceptives prevents...In lower middle-income countries like Ghana, it is common to find low contraceptive use among adolescents with corresponding high pregnancy outcomes. Evidence points to the fact that the use of contraceptives prevents maternal, neonatal and infant deaths, but in most lower middle-income countries, socio-cultural practices inhibit adolescents’ use. Ensuring the uptake of family planning among adolescents is deemed a necessary means of reducing maternal, neonatal and infant mor-tality. This manuscript seeks to provide contextually relevant approaches to satisfying family planning needs of adolescents in a population lacking it. We employed a qualitative study design from an interpretive paradigm with phenomenology as the methodology to understand societal attitudes towards family planning delivery to adolescents, so as to arrive at contextually appro-priate ways of providing family planning to this needy group. Focused group discussions and in-depth interviews techniques were used in data collection among adolescents, relevant commu-nity opinion leaders and family planning & health services providers. Themes that emerged from data analysis with respect to “perspectives on family planning care delivery to adolescents” and “best ways in addressing adolescents’ family planning needs” are presented, followed by discussion of the issues emerging. A significant and encouraging finding of the study was that opinion leaders and healthcare providers viewed family planning as a means of protecting adolescents against pregnancies and their complications. A key recommendation is for policy makers and political leaders to enact legislations that enable adolescents to have friendly family planning service delivery in all places and at all times.展开更多
Background:This study assessed the quality,core and support functions of the integrated disease surveillance and response(IDSR)system relating to 18 suspected cases of Ebola virus disease(EVD)in the Brong Ahafo Region...Background:This study assessed the quality,core and support functions of the integrated disease surveillance and response(IDSR)system relating to 18 suspected cases of Ebola virus disease(EVD)in the Brong Ahafo Region,Ghana.Methods:Data was collected on selected indicators of the surveillance system relating to 18 suspected cases of EVD,from epidemiological week 19 to 45 of 2014.We conducted in-depth interviews with seven medical directors and two district directors of health services,and also reviewed documentation on the implementation of the core,support and quality functions of the IDSR system.We also monitored news in the media and rumours about EVD within the community as well as in health facility surveillance registers.Results:The study identified gaps in the implementation of IDSR relating to 18 suspected cases of EVD.Health staff heavily relied on haemorrhage as the only symptom for detection of suspected EVD cases.Twelve blood samples and a swab of secretions from the mouth of the thirteenth patient(who died)tested negative for EVD using PCR assay in laboratory confirmation.The blood samples of three patients were discarded,as they did not fit the case definition for suspected cases,whilst two refused for their blood samples to be taken.The community-based surveillance(CBS)system has not been given a prominent role in EVD surveillance and response,as demonstrated by CBS volunteers and health staff not receiving any training in these processes.There was intense public interest in EVD in August and September 2014.That interest has since waned for reasons that have to be formally ascertained.Unfounded fear of and anxiety about EVD still remain challenges due to a lack of in-depth knowledge about the disease in Ghana.Conclusion:Ghana has been one of the pioneers in the implementation of IDSR in Africa.Despite this,gaps have been identified in the implementation of IDSR relating to EVD in the Brong Ahafo Region.To address these gaps,the CBS system has to actively partner with health facility surveillance to achieve effective IDSR in the region.展开更多
文摘This study describes community members’ knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), their attitudes and preventive practices. A mixed methods approach was used. A random sample of 1028 community members aged 15 - 65 years was interviewed in a quantitative survey. This was complemented with a qualitative study involving 24 opinion leaders who were carefully selected. The study was conducted in Kintampo North and South districts of Ghana from August 2014 to October 2014. 83% of respondents had heard of EVD, but 62.5% did not know the duration between the time of infection and onset of clinical symptoms. The most popular symptom mentioned spontaneously was bleeding through body orifices (48.6%). Majority of respondents mentioned handshake or skin contact as a mode of transmission (57.3%) and reduced contact with bats as a means to prevent the spread of EVD (58.1%). Knowledge of transmission of body fluids such as faeces, blood or urine was low (<10%), though this varied significantly by socio-demographic group. Majority (94%) of respondents acknowledged that EVD was a serious disease, however, only 58% saw themselves at risk. Current preventive behaviours included: improved hand hygiene (83%) and avoidance of handshakes and physical contact with people (81%). Community members in the Kintampo districts have high level of awareness of EVD, but important gaps in knowledge of EVD still exist, especially concerning body fluids as a mode of transmission. There is the need to intensify educational messages as part of Ghana’s preparedness towards a potential EVD outbreak.
文摘In lower middle-income countries like Ghana, it is common to find low contraceptive use among adolescents with corresponding high pregnancy outcomes. Evidence points to the fact that the use of contraceptives prevents maternal, neonatal and infant deaths, but in most lower middle-income countries, socio-cultural practices inhibit adolescents’ use. Ensuring the uptake of family planning among adolescents is deemed a necessary means of reducing maternal, neonatal and infant mor-tality. This manuscript seeks to provide contextually relevant approaches to satisfying family planning needs of adolescents in a population lacking it. We employed a qualitative study design from an interpretive paradigm with phenomenology as the methodology to understand societal attitudes towards family planning delivery to adolescents, so as to arrive at contextually appro-priate ways of providing family planning to this needy group. Focused group discussions and in-depth interviews techniques were used in data collection among adolescents, relevant commu-nity opinion leaders and family planning & health services providers. Themes that emerged from data analysis with respect to “perspectives on family planning care delivery to adolescents” and “best ways in addressing adolescents’ family planning needs” are presented, followed by discussion of the issues emerging. A significant and encouraging finding of the study was that opinion leaders and healthcare providers viewed family planning as a means of protecting adolescents against pregnancies and their complications. A key recommendation is for policy makers and political leaders to enact legislations that enable adolescents to have friendly family planning service delivery in all places and at all times.
文摘Background:This study assessed the quality,core and support functions of the integrated disease surveillance and response(IDSR)system relating to 18 suspected cases of Ebola virus disease(EVD)in the Brong Ahafo Region,Ghana.Methods:Data was collected on selected indicators of the surveillance system relating to 18 suspected cases of EVD,from epidemiological week 19 to 45 of 2014.We conducted in-depth interviews with seven medical directors and two district directors of health services,and also reviewed documentation on the implementation of the core,support and quality functions of the IDSR system.We also monitored news in the media and rumours about EVD within the community as well as in health facility surveillance registers.Results:The study identified gaps in the implementation of IDSR relating to 18 suspected cases of EVD.Health staff heavily relied on haemorrhage as the only symptom for detection of suspected EVD cases.Twelve blood samples and a swab of secretions from the mouth of the thirteenth patient(who died)tested negative for EVD using PCR assay in laboratory confirmation.The blood samples of three patients were discarded,as they did not fit the case definition for suspected cases,whilst two refused for their blood samples to be taken.The community-based surveillance(CBS)system has not been given a prominent role in EVD surveillance and response,as demonstrated by CBS volunteers and health staff not receiving any training in these processes.There was intense public interest in EVD in August and September 2014.That interest has since waned for reasons that have to be formally ascertained.Unfounded fear of and anxiety about EVD still remain challenges due to a lack of in-depth knowledge about the disease in Ghana.Conclusion:Ghana has been one of the pioneers in the implementation of IDSR in Africa.Despite this,gaps have been identified in the implementation of IDSR relating to EVD in the Brong Ahafo Region.To address these gaps,the CBS system has to actively partner with health facility surveillance to achieve effective IDSR in the region.
