Background: A 14-month prospective longitudinal study conducted in the Taabo health demographic surveillance\r\nsystem (HDSS), south-central CÃ?´te dââ?¬â?¢Ivoire, revealed high prevalence of anemia in different population groups in\r\nthree types of settings (i.e., small town, village, and hamlet). Demographic parameters and several variables related\r\nto parasitic infections, micronutrient status, and inflammation were significantly associated with higher odds of\r\nanemia. However, cultural concepts and knowledge of various anemia-related illnesses and their relation with\r\npeopleââ?¬â?¢s behaviors have not been investigated.\r\nMethods: Sixteen focus group discussions and six key informant interviews were performed with village authorities,\r\nhealth workers, and traditional healers. Questionnaires were administrated to 200 school-aged children and 115\r\nyoung women. Of these individuals, 206 participated in the preceding longitudinal study, whereas the remaining\r\n109 people were not exposed to prior research, but had similar age and sex profiles. Mean prominence of\r\nparticipantsââ?¬â?¢ responses was compared between groups of participants and across study settings.\r\nResults: Local concepts of anemia-related illnesses referred to its perceived causes based on two logical\r\nframeworks ââ?¬â?? biomedical and sociocultural ââ?¬â?? although a clear distinction was often blurred. We found few\r\ndifferences in knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors across study settings and between participants who were exposed\r\nto prior research and newly recruited ones. Malaria und nutritional issues as understood and managed by the\r\npopulation differed from definitions and recommendations provided by the health system. Malaria was not\r\nacknowledged as an exclusive mosquito-transmitted disease and participants referred to the quantity, rather than\r\nthe quality, of food when talking about nutritional issues.\r\nConclusions: Local concepts and ideas about anemia have public health implications, inasmuch as they are related\r\nto peopleââ?¬â?¢s attitudes, risk-related and help-seeking behaviors, which in turn might affect their health status. Local\r\nterminology and beliefs about anemia and malaria should be carefully considered when developing health\r\nintervention and education programs. The similarity in knowledge about anemia-related illnesses and associated\r\nbehaviors, regardless of study setting and prior exposure to research, suggests that a uniform communication\r\nstrategy may be used to develop education programs and awareness campaigns aimed at the prevention and\r\ncontrol of anemia in south-central CÃ?´te dââ?¬â?¢Ivoire.
Loading....