Dust or disease? Perceptions of influenza in rural Southern Malawi
| Autor: | Spencer Nundwe, Kate Gooding, Ivan Mambule, Meredith McMorrow, Nicola Desmond, Mackwellings Phiri, Ingrid Peterson |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2018 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
business.industry media_common.quotation_subject 030231 tropical medicine Psychological intervention Disease medicine.disease Focus group 3. Good health 03 medical and health sciences Pneumonia 0302 clinical medicine Family medicine Perception Influenza prevention medicine Health education 030212 general & internal medicine business Malaria media_common |
| DOI: | 10.1101/470856 |
| Popis: | BackgroundInfluenza virus infections cause between 291 243 and 645 832 deaths annually, with the highest burden in low-income settings. Research in high-income countries has examined public understanding of influenza, but there is little information on views and behaviours about influenza in low-income countries. We explored communities’ ideas about the severity, causes, prevention and treatment of influenza in Chikwawa district, Malawi.MethodsWe conducted 64 in-depth interviews with parents of children aged ResultsRespondents held varied ideas about influenza, and many were uncertain about its causes and treatment. Some parents, traditional healers and health workers thought influenza was not severe because they felt it did not cause death or limit activities, but others disagreed. Many saw influenza as a symptom of other conditions, especially malaria and pneumonia, rather than as a disease of its own. Most mentioned dust as the main cause of influenza and believed influenza could be prevented by cleaning the home thoroughly. Treatment seeking for influenza followed different stages, usually starting with home remedies followed by purchasing drugs from groceries and then visiting a health centre. Seeking a clinician tended to be triggered by severe symptoms like high fever or difficulty breathing, and suspicions of malaria or pneumonia. Community health workers provide health education for communities, but some lacked understanding of influenza.ConclusionOur findings suggest uncertainty about the causes and control of influenza among parents and varied levels of understanding among health providers. Strengthening the capacity of community health workers to provide relevant information about influenza prevention and treatment could address parents’ interest in further information and support informed health seeking and engagement with future influenza interventions. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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