Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Community and Health Professionals towards Podoconiosis in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Introduction: podoconiosis is a, non-infective, chronic disease characterized by the
development of persistent swelling of plantar foot which progresses to the dorsum of the foot
and encompasses lower leg slowly. Wolaita Zone is highly exposed to crystalline substances
and the prevalence of podoconiosis exceeds 5.0%. People with podoconiosis and their
families bear a range of negative social impacts as a consequence of having podoconiosis.
Objectives: to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of community and health
professionals towards podoconiosis in Wolaita Zone.
Methods: a quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2007. Community
participants were selected by multistage probability sampling while health professionals were
selected purposively. Structured, piloted and scrutinized questionnaires were used for data
collection. Data were then entered into EPI/INFO V6.04 and exported to SPSS V11.5 for
analysis.
Results: most (91.6%) of community respondents knew about podoconiosis. Misconceptions
about causation ranged from 9.3-62.9% and about prevention methods ranged from 52.0%-
64.9%. Only 21.4% and 11.4% knew that matting floors and cementing floors could prevent
podoconiosis, respectively. Nearly 46.0% of community respondents had low knowledge
about podoconiosis. About 37.1-55.7% showed stigmatizing and discriminating attitudes
towards social interactions with podoconiosis patients, and 63.8% had unfavorable attitude
towards podoconiosis. Around 86.1% had ever worn shoes and 54.2% were wearing shoes
during interview.
Only 58.2% of health professionals (HPs) knew that podoconiosis is caused by soil particles.
HPs misconceptions about causes of podoconiosis ranged from 37.1%-61.3%. Majority
(54.3%) had low knowledge score about podoconiosis. Working in a private health facility
was negatively associated with the general knowledge score of HPs (P<0.05). Most (86.4%)
HPs did not feel that they had adequate knowledge and skills to provide care and treatment for
podoconiosis patients. Forty-eight percent of HPs had unfavorable attitude and those with
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high knowledge were more likely to have favorable attitude (P<0.05). Thirty-six percent of
health professionals had ever treated podoconiosis patients and 71.0% of them prescribed
DEC.
Conclusions: both community and health professionals had misconceptions about causation,
care, treatment and preventions of podoconiosis. Based on findings, awareness raising and
behavioral change interventions, hygiene promotion, cementing floors, matting floors,
training health professionals on care and treatment of podoconiosis, and further researches on
relative importance of various causes of podoconiosis were recommended.
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Keywords
Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Community