Dataset Information

Perceived causes and diagnosis of febrile convulsion in selected rural contexts in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Febrile convulsion (FC) is a common seizure disorder among children aged 9 months to 5 years. It is usually benign and self-limiting with favourable prognosis. However, in Ghana, FC is commonly perceived as "not for hospital" and widely diagnosed and managed at home based on several beliefs and practices which are limited in related literature.

Objective

This study explored the perceived causes and diagnosis of FC in selected rural communities in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.

Methods

A descriptive phenomenological study design underpinned the study at five selected communities located not more than 2 Kilometres from the University of Cape Coast Hospital. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to interview 42 participants made up of 27 parents, two grandmothers, seven registered traditional health practitioners, four herbalists, and two faith healers in the communities. The data was analysed using QSR NVivo 12.

Results

Three perceived causes of FC were identified - biological, social/behavioural, and spiritual. Biological causes include genetic abnormalities and other underlying health conditions. The behavioural factors include poor childcare practices and nutrition. Spiritual causes include harm caused by evil spirits. The diagnosis of FC were observed prior, during and after FC attack, and these includes high body temperature, extreme body jerking, and disability outcomes respectively.

Conclusion

The perceived causes of FC are interplay of complex natural, social and spiritual factors that were deep-rooted in local socio-cultural beliefs and FC experiences. Unlike the attack stage, pre-attack diagnosis were usually missed, or misconstrued to mean other health conditions. These findings indicate the need to intensify maternal and child health (MCH) education programmes on FC in the study area through improved primary healthcare.

SUBMITTER: Owusu BA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8764833 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundInformation and communication technology (ICT) has significantly advanced global healthcare, with electronic health (e-Health) applications improving health records and delivery. These innovations, including electronic health records, strengthen healthcare systems. The study investigates healthcare professionals' perceptions of health information applications and their associated factors in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana's health facilities.MethodsWe used a descriptive cross-sectional study design to collect data from 632 healthcare professionals (HCPs), in the three purposively selected health facilities in the Cape Coast municipality of Ghana, in July 2022. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the normality of dependent variables. Descriptive statistics were used to report means with corresponding standard deviations for continuous variables. Proportions were also reported for categorical variables. Bivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors influencing the Benefits of Information Technology (BoIT); Barriers to Information Technology Use (BITU); and Motives of Information Technology Use (MoITU) in healthcare delivery. Stata SE version 15 was used for the analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 served as the basis for considering a statistically significant accepting hypothesis.ResultsHealthcare professionals (HCPs) generally perceived moderate benefits (Mean score (M) = 5.67) from information technology (IT) in healthcare. However, they slightly agreed that barriers like insufficient computers (M = 5.11), frequent system downtime (M = 5.09), low system performance (M = 5.04), and inadequate staff training (M = 4.88) hindered IT utilization. Respondents slightly agreed that training (M = 5.56), technical support (M = 5.46), and changes in work procedures (M = 5.10) motivated their IT use. Bivariate regression analysis revealed significant influences of education, working experience, healthcare profession, and IT training on attitudes towards IT utilization in healthcare delivery (BoIT, BITU, and MoITU). Additionally, the age of healthcare providers, education, and working experience significantly influenced BITU. Ultimately, age, education, working experience, healthcare profession, and IT training significantly influenced MoITU in healthcare delivery.ConclusionsHealthcare professionals acknowledge moderate benefits of IT in healthcare but encounter barriers like inadequate resources and training. Motives for IT use include staff training and support. Bivariate regression analysis shows education, working experience, profession, and IT training significantly influence attitudes towards IT adoption. Targeted interventions and policies can enhance IT utilization in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.

Project description:BackgroundPatient records' relevance is associated with a variety of needs and objectives. Substantiating the health of patients perpetually and allowing professionals in the medical field to assess both signs and symptoms that fall in a relatively wider temporal point of view and contributions that lead to enhanced diagnoses and treatment are all quintessential of patient records. The advancement of information technology systems has led to the anticipation that development will be put into digitization and electronic means of storing patient records in order to grease their handling. Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) is piloting implementation of patient's electronic health record system. The introduction of the electronic health record system known as Lightwave Hospital Information Management System (LHIMS) was to provide a permanent solution to patients' continuity of care. User's acceptance of new information technology is seen to be one of the most challenging issues in information system. This study assesses healthcare providers' (HP') behavioural intention to use LHIMS to attend to clients in Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and other factors influencing it.MethodsA nonexperimental cross-sectional study was used to obtain information from 84 HP recruited from the various departments and units in CCTH who use LHIMS to attend to clients. The sample size of 90, representing 8% of HP in CCTH, was randomly selected from the various departments and units. However, 84 (indicating 93.3% response rate) of the selected HP were available during the period of the research.ResultsPerceived ease of use (PEOU) of LHIMS had the strongest direct effect on perceived usefulness (PU), with a highly significant path coefficient of 0.75. PU had the greatest impact on attitude about HP' behavioural intention to use (BIU) LHIMS to attend to patients' healthcare delivery in CCTH (0.91). This relationship was highly significant at p < 0.001. PEOU did not have a significant direct effect on attitude about LHIMS use, as hypothesized in the original technology acceptance model. However, attitude towards use had a strong significant effect on HP' BIU of LHIMS, with a strong statistically significant path coefficient of 0.98 at p < 0.001.ConclusionsWe conclude that attitude towards use have a significant influence on HP' behavioural intention to use LHIMS to attend to clients in Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.