Congenital Talipes Equinovarus ‘Clubfoot’ in Zambia: A qualitative study on the influences on treatment-seeking behavior at Beit Cure Hospital, Zambia.
Elliott*
Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK*| Abstract | The behavioral trends of guardians of children with congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) were analyzed at Beit Cure Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, in order to extract negatively influencing barriers and positively influencing drivers to seeking corrective treatment for clubfoot. Seventeen participants (guardians of patients aged six weeks to eighteen years) were interviewed between August and October 2013, using informal, open-ended interviewing techniques. This study is a continuation of the research conducted by Bedford et al (1) on clubfoot in Malawi, by continuing the method of analysis into the neighboring country of Zambia to identify similarities and differences in cultural understanding and behavior towards clubfoot treatment, including surgical and non-surgical treatment options.
Key barriers to treatment were identified: financial/ transportation, adverse advice, cultural beliefs, and prioritization. The major driving factors identified were: community support, physician advice, wish to help child and accessibility of transportation. Work is already in place which addresses some of these drivers and barriers, and there is need for continuing improvement in these areas in order to ensure the implementation of gold-standard clubfoot treatment for Zambia’s population.
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| References : | - Bedford K, Chidothi P, Sakala H, Cashman J, Lavy C. Clubfoot in Malawi: treatment-seeking behavior. Tropical Doctor 2001;21:211-214.
DOI: 10.7199/ped.oncall.2014.9S |
| | | How to Cite URL : | | Elliott.. Available From : http://www.pediatriconcall.com/conference/abstract/33/view/815 |
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