Disease perception, impacts and coping strategies for onchocerciasis in Southeast Nigeria: a qualitative study among patients and program managers

被引:1
作者
Otache, Adah E. [1 ,2 ]
Ezenwosu, Ifeyinwa L. [1 ]
Ossai, Edmund N. [3 ]
Nwobi, Emmanuel A. [1 ]
Abah, Stephen O. [4 ]
Uzochukwu, Benjamin S. C. [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Nigeria, Dept Community Med, Teaching Hosp, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
[2] Fed Med Ctr, Dept Community Med, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
[3] Ebonyi State Univ, Coll Hlth Sci, Dept Community Med, Abakaliki, Nigeria
[4] Fed Univ Hlth Sci, Dept Community Med, Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria
关键词
Onchocerciasis; Perception; Coping strategies; Southeast Nigeria; PODOCONIOSIS; ATTITUDE; STIGMA;
D O I
10.1186/s12889-023-15821-6
中图分类号
R1 [预防医学、卫生学];
学科分类号
1004 ; 120402 ;
摘要
BackgroundOnchocerciasis is a disease of public health concern due to the devastating consequences of the disease which impacts negatively on the lives of the people. The negative impact of the disease may affect its perception and lead to the adoption of some coping strategies. Therefore, understanding the disease perception, impacts and coping strategies used by onchocerciasis patients will help plan health interventions aimed at improving their general well-being.MethodsThis was a community-based study that employed a qualitative method through Key informant interviews (KII) with program managers and focus group discussions (FGD) among people who had Onchocerciasis. Four sessions of FGDs with a total of thirty-two (32) participants and eleven KIIs were conducted to ascertain their in-depth experience in five thematic areas.ResultsIn these communities, onchocerciasis is perceived to have been caused mainly by the bite of blackflies. Other presumed causes by the patients included drinking polluted water, poor environmental sanitation and witchcraft. The disease had a significant detrimental influence on both the physical and financial aspects of life with limited emotional and social impacts. The long-term clinical manifestations of onchocerciasis triggered pain and insufficient mobility. Thus, onchocerciasis patients experienced impairment in normal daily life activities (farming, etc.), dependency, depression and inability to participate in social events. These manifestations stimulated various coping strategies, mainly, nodulectomy by traditional healers. Others included self-medication, taking an overdose of ivermectin, and the use of alcohol.ConclusionMisconceptions about the cause of onchocerciasis still exist among people with the disease. The consequences of the disease impact negatively on various aspects of their lives and stimulate various coping strategies. Therefore, health promotion messages to the public should aim at dispelling misconceptions about the disease and promote healthy coping strategies.
引用
收藏
页数:11
相关论文
共 29 条
[1]   Perception and Attitude of People Toward Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) in South Western Nigeria [J].
Adeoye, A. O. ;
Ashaye, A. O. ;
Onakpoya, O. H. .
MIDDLE EAST AFRICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, 2010, 17 (04) :310-314
[2]   Socioeconomic impacts of elimination of onchocerciasis in Abu-Hamed focus, northern Sudan: lessons after elimination [J].
Ahmed, Ayman ;
Elbashir, Anas ;
Mohamed, Asgad A. ;
Alim, Asha A. ;
Mubarak, Asia ;
Abdelrahman, Duaa ;
Mohammed, Eilaf ;
Mohamed, Nouh S. ;
Elaagip, Arwa H. ;
Zarroug, Isam M. A. ;
Mounkaila, Noma ;
Tahir, Hanan .
BMC RESEARCH NOTES, 2020, 13 (01)
[3]  
Ajaegbu OO., 2020, ADV PUBLIC HLTH COMM, V2020, P109
[4]   Individuals living in an onchocerciasis focus and treated three-monthly with ivermectin develop fewer new onchocercal nodules than individuals treated annually [J].
Campillo, Jeremy T. ;
Chesnais, Cedric B. ;
Pion, Sebastien D. S. ;
Gardon, Jacques ;
Kamgno, Joseph ;
Boussinesq, Michel .
PARASITES & VECTORS, 2020, 13 (01) :258
[5]   Barriers to the National Onchocerciasis Control Programme at operational level in Cameroon: a qualitative assessment of stakeholders' views [J].
Dissak-Delon, Fanny Nadia ;
Kamga, Guy-Roger ;
Humblet, Perrine Claire ;
Robert, Annie ;
Souopgui, Jacob ;
Kamgno, Joseph ;
Ghogomu, Stephen Mbigha ;
Godin, Isabelle .
PARASITES & VECTORS, 2019, 12 (1)
[6]   Health-related impact on quality of life and coping strategies for chikungunya: A qualitative study in Curacao [J].
Elsinga, Jelte ;
Grobusch, Martin P. ;
Tami, Adriana ;
Gerstenbluth, Izzy ;
Bailey, Ajay .
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES, 2017, 11 (10)
[7]   Health Seeking Behaviour and Treatment Intentions of Dengue and Fever: A Household Survey of Children and Adults in Venezuela [J].
Elsinga, Jelte ;
Lizarazo, Erley F. ;
Vincenti, Maria F. ;
Schmidt, Masja ;
Velasco-Salas, Zoraida I. ;
Arias, Luzlexis ;
Bailey, Ajay ;
Tami, Adriana .
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES, 2015, 9 (12)
[8]  
Enugu State Ministry of Health (Nigeria), 2015, EN STAT MAST PLAN NE
[9]   Social stigma towards neglected tropical diseases: a systematic review [J].
Hofstraat, Karlijn ;
van Brakel, Wim H. .
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH, 2016, 8 :i53-i70
[10]   Neurological manifestations in Onchocerca volvulus infection: A review [J].
Hotterbeekx, An ;
Ssonko, Vivian Namale ;
Oyet, William ;
Lakwo, Thomson ;
Idro, Richard .
BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN, 2019, 145 :39-44