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Magister Public Health - MPH / Globally, 1600 women and over 5000 newborn babies die daily of preventable causes and over 90% of these deaths occur in developing world. An estimated 358000 maternal deaths occurred worldwide in 2008 with developing countries accounting for 99%. In Zambia, maternal mortality ratio has been estimated to be 591 deaths per I 00,000 live births underscoring the great challenge posed by maternal and child health problems. At the same time, utilization of antenatal care services by pregnant women, supervision of deliveries by skilled person and postnatal care services is low in most regions of Zambia. Since professional attendance at delivery is assumed to reduce maternal and infant mortality, poor antenatal care (ANC) utilization may lead to increased infant and matern.al mortality and morbidity.This study sought to assess the barriers to utilization of antenatal care services in Kazungula district, Zambia. A qualitative exploratory study was used to uncover participants' experiences and perceptions on barriers to use of ANC.Focus group discussions were used to gather information from primegravidae and multigravidae not attending or irregularly attending ANC services and from traditional birth attendants. In-depth interviews were conducted with key informants namely the health centre in-charge and leader of safe motherhood support group.Data was analyzed through thematic content analysis. From the transcripts, patterns of experiences coming from direct quotes or through paraphrasing common ideas forming part of the themes were listed. Data from all the transcripts relating to the classified patterns were identified and placed under the relevant theme. Thereafter related patterns were combined and listed into sub-themes. The analysis involved drawing together and comparing discussions of similar themes and examining how these relate to the variations between individuals and groups that assisted in understanding the phenomenon of interests. The study revealed that utilization of ANC was impeded by multiple interrelated factors such as low socio economic and educational status of women, influence of the older generation, traditional and cultural practices. Previous negative experiences with health workers such as bad attitude of health workers and perceived poor quality of care were mentioned as factors that negatively affect utilization of ANC services. Other notable barriers were built in confidence resulting from previous safe deliveries, family size and competing priorities, fear of being tested for HJY and physical the accessibility.The study recommends that the district and its partners address the barriers if efforts in safe motherhood will yield meaningful impact. DHMT in the long term plan needs to train and deploy skilled personnel to rural health centres. They should have a deliberate policy on rural incentives to motivate trained staff to remote areas. More health posts need to be built as a way of taking health care services as close to the family as possible. In addition, for the short term plan there is need to provide inservice training for staff on safe motherhood and circulate guidelines. Orient staff on focused antenatal care (FANC).DHMT should ensure continuum of, care by supporting adequate supplies, equipment, drugs and transport to the health facilities.

Malaria in pregnancy remains a public health challenge in Nigeria despite the fund appropriation for malaria control. The health challenges of malaria in pregnancy vary with populations and there is limited knowledge on the impact of the socioeconomic status and health-seeking behavior on malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria. The objective of this cross-sectional quantitative survey was to examine whether socioeconomic status and health-seeking behavior predict malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria using the social cognitive theoretical model. The data from a 2015 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey was used in this study. Data were analyzed using chi-square, binary, and multivariate logistics regression analyses. The study demonstrated that socioeconomic status (wealth index/income [Poorest: OR 2.709, 95% CI 1.869-3.928, p 0.000; Poorer: OR 1.791, 95% CI 1.256-2.555, p 0.00] and no education: OR 2.868, 95% CI 1.761-4.671, p 0.000) made significant contributions in predicting malaria in pregnancy. The research results also showed that socioeconomic status is a predictor of health-seeking behavior (wealth index/income [Poorest: OR 0.414, 95% CI 0.244-0.705, p 0.001], no education: OR 0.329, 95% CI 0.174-0.622, p 0.001 and primary education: OR 0.348, 95% CI 0.191-0.636, p 0.001). Additionally, the study findings showed that malaria in pregnancy determined the choice of formal health-seeking behavior by pregnant women (malaria in pregnancy: OR 0.551, 95% CI 0.469-0.648, p 0.000). The results of this research might guide Nigeria's Ministry of Health to develop approaches on women empowerment that would focus on socioeconomic status and health-seeking behavior of women such as programs to improve women's education and income generation.

Magister Public Health - MPH / The aim of this study was to describe the health seeking behaviours, knowledge about the available services, as well as experiences, and barriers to access and utilization of the reproductive health services among male adolescents in Lusaka. A descriptive, qualitative study was conducted among male adolescents in a peri-urban setting in Lusaka. Four focus group discussions were conducted with 46 adolescents aged between 13 and 24 years of age, and six key informant interviews. Data was audio-tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic content analysis was done. Health concerns were related to the social, psychological, societal and puberty needs of participants. Concerns, questions and queries about masturbation were common, especially among the younger adolescents. Most problems related to puberty and body changes rather than sexual and reproductive health matters per se. Knowledge about the available sexual and reproductive health services was generally low, with some young men being completely unaware of the existence of youth friendly services at the local clinic. Contrary to popular opinion, adolescents in this community reported that they did not seek help on sexual matters from friends and did not want to discuss their problems with their peers, due to fears of being marginalized. Perceived gender, cultural and social norms, lack of knowledge about the availability of adolescent reproductive health services, and poor attitudes among the health care providers were some of the identified barriers to seeking health care. Adolescents perceived health providers to be judgmental, not helpful and condescending towards young people. Lack of privacy and confidentiality were also reported as barriers to access and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services

<p>This dissertation aimed at examining the predictors of HPV vaccination intentions of college students in a Kenyan university and those in a Midwest university in the United States of America (USA). Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the dissertation investigated the most salient factors that predict the vaccination intentions of college male and female students in Kenya and the USA. A mixed method approach was utilized to collect data from the participants. Specifically, interviews with 43 students (22 from Kenya and 21 from USA) were used to collect the qualitative data from the students. The quantitative data were collected using closed-ended surveys with 512 Kenyan students at a large university in Uasin Gishu County and 522 students at the Midwestern university, USA. The qualitative findings revealed that identification had a major influence on how students sought health, ate, and related with their peers. In particular, identification through religiosity influenced the students’ attitudes toward sex and perception of oneself. Thus, many respondents reported viewing their bodies as the temple of God and sex as an activity for married couples. Thus, when they engaged in premarital sex, they often felt disconnected with God and they resulted to seeking forgiveness, minimizing their actions, and normalizing their actions.</p><p>Overall, the quantitative results suggested that college students in Kenya and the USA converged in certain health trends but differed in several others. For example, the Kenyan participants depicted a low understanding of HPV and HPV vaccine compared to the participants at the Midwestern university. The country of the participant also moderated the relationships between subjective norms and intentions, sex attitudes, vaccine attitudes, and intention to get vaccinated. The participants from the USA, for example, reported a stronger relationship between subjective norms and the intention to be vaccinated compared to the participants from Kenya. The results of this study also showed that the gender of the participant had an influence on the attitudes of students toward sex, with male participants having more favorable attitudes toward sex compared to female participants. Overall, subjective norms and cancer worry were the only common vaccine predictors among both female and male participants from Kenya and the USA. Surprisingly, although religiosity was correlated with other variables under consideration, it did not emerge as a direct predictor of the intention to get vaccinated. This might suggest it as a probable indirect predictor.</p><p>Being a comparative study of students in two countries, this dissertation offers unique insights that can inform theory, research, practice, and policy development. Specifically, the results point to the need for health practitioners designing health campaigns to consider the unique differences that exist among male and female students in Kenya and the USA. Some of the weaknesses of the study include use of self-report measures, which are limited to the memory of participants. This study suggests that researchers continue to explore the role of religiosity in influencing health-seeking behaviors among college students.</p>

Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant cause of morbidity in Uganda. TB control in the Ugandan district of Butaleja remains poor, characterised by TB case detection and cure rates below national targets. A qualitative exploratory and descriptive study was conducted to identify factors associated with health-seeking behaviour of TB patients in Butaleja district; with an aim to present recommendations for promoting positive health-seeking behaviour amongst the patients. Data was collected through individual in-depth interviews with seven diagnosed TB patients and analysed using Creswell’s (2009:186) analytic spiral steps. The findings revealed three major themes, namely; the nature of health-seeking behaviour, factors associated with the health-seeking behaviour and advice to others experiencing similar symptoms. The health-seeking behaviour of participants was generally poor, characterised by delay in seeking proper medical treatment for TB. Health system, individual and social factors contributed to poor health-seeking behaviour among the participants. The study recommends health system and community interventions targeted at individuals to improve health-seeking behaviour for Pulmonary TB / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Background: Antenatal care (ANC), facility delivery and postnatal care (PNC), are proven to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity in high burden settings. However, few rural pregnant women use these services sufficiently and it is essential to identify the barriers. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine barriers, with a focus on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), affecting women’s decision to seek care during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period in rural Kenya, and to examine if the Afya intervention helped overcome barriers. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in the Siaya County, Kenya. 25 mothers were selected by using purposive sampling for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Assessment of WASH facilities was conducted at 5 healthcare facilities. Data were analysed by content analysis method. The “three delay model” informed the analytic process and discussion. Results: Women delayed seeking or did not attend ANC and PNC or gave birth at home, due to lack of knowledge of benefits of maternal health services and on complications; traditional and religious beliefs; embarrassed over pregnancy; busy with other life activities or of fear of HIV status and hospitals. Gender norms, distance and transport costs were the contributing factor for delaying in reaching the hospital. Unprofessional and inadequate number of staff, lack of equipment and supplies, and the water, sanitation and hygiene quality were factors delaying receiving quality care. The assessment showed on inadequate WASH facilities. Conclusion: Use of antenatal care, delivery and postnatal care in rural western Kenya is influenced by several barriers. The findings suggest a need to increase the knowledge about ANC and PNC, and to lower barriers preventing women from reaching the healthcare facility. There is also a need to improve the WASH facilities and the healthcare personnel’s treatment.

<p>Background: Globally, neonatal mortality (i.e. deaths occurring during the first month of life) accounts for 44% of the 11 million infants that die every year (Lawn, Cousens &amp / Zupan, 2005). Early&nbsp / detection of illness and referral of mothers and infants during the peri-natal period to higher levels of care can lead to substantial reductions in maternal and child mortality in developing&nbsp / countries. Establishing effective referral systems from the community to health facilities can be achieved through greater utilization of community health workers and improved health seeking&nbsp / behaviour. Study design: The Good Start Saving Newborn Lives study being conducted in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, is a community randomized trial to assess the effect of an integrated home&nbsp / visit package delivered to mothers during pregnancy and post delivery on uptake of PMTCT interventions and appropriate newborn care practices. The home visit package is delivered by community health workers in fifteen intervention clusters. Control clusters receive routine health facility antenatal and postpartum care. For any identified danger signs during a home visit,&nbsp / community health workers write a referral and if necessary refer infants to a local clinic or hospital. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of this referral system by describing&nbsp / community health worker referral completion rates as well as health-care seeking practices and perceptions of mothers. A cross- sectional survey was undertaken using a structured&nbsp / questionnaire with all mothers who had been referred to a clinic or hospital by a community health worker since the start of the Good Start Saving Newborn Lives Trial. Data collection: Informed consent was obtained from willing participants. Interviews were conducted by a trained research assistant in the mothers&rsquo / home or at the study&nbsp / offices. Road to Health Cards were reviewed to confirm referral completion. Data was collected by means of a cell phone (mobile researcher software) and the database was later transferred to Epi-info and STATA IC 11 for analysis.&nbsp / Descriptive analysis was&nbsp / conducted so as to establish associations between explanatory factors and referral completion and to describe referral processes experienced by caregivers. Significant&nbsp / associations between categorical variables were assessed using chi square tests and continuous variables using analysis of variance. Results: A total of 2423 women were&nbsp / enrolled in the SNL study and 148 had received a referral for a sick infant by a CHW by June 2010. The majority (95%) of infants were referred only once during the time of enrolment, the&nbsp / highest number of which occurred within&nbsp / the first 4 weeks of life (62%) with 22% of these being between birth and 2 weeks of age. Almost all mothers (95%) completed the referral by taking&nbsp / their child to a health facility. Difficulty in breathing and rash accounted for the highest number of referrals (26% and 19% respectively). None of the six mothers who did not complete referral recognised any danger signs in their infants. In only 16% of cases did a health worker give written feedback on the outcome of the referral to the referring CHW.&nbsp / Conclusion: This study found&nbsp / high compliance with referrals for sick infants by community health workers in Umlazi. This supports the current primary health care re-engineering process being undertaken by the South&nbsp / African National Department of Health (SANDOH) which will involve the establishment of family health worker teams&nbsp / including community health workers. A key function of these workers will&nbsp / be to conduct antenatal and postnatal visits to women in their homes and to identify and refer ill children. Failure of mothers to identify danger signs in the infant was associated with&nbsp / non-completion of referral. This highlights the need for thorough counseling of mothers during the antenatal and early postnatal period on neonatal danger signs which can be reinforced by&nbsp / community health workers. Most of the referrals in this study were&nbsp / neonates which strengthens the need for home visit packages delivered by community health workers during the antenatal&nbsp / and post-natal period as currently planned by the South African National Department of Health.Recommendations: This study supports the current plans of the Department of Health for greater involvement of CHWs in Primary Health Care. Attention should be given to improving communication between health facilities and CHWs to ensure continuity of care and greater&nbsp / realization of a team approach to PHC.</p>

Innovative ways to conduct disease surveillance are required to address the complexity of Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP). Mixed methods were employed to explore CFP epidemiology and interdisciplinary approaches to its surveillance in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). Quantitative analyses of cross-sectional data collected by the TCI’s National Epidemiology and Research Unit in 2010 demonstrated that a low percentage of residents reported lifetime histories of illness following fish consumption (3.9%). Furthermore, gender, age, island, and home remedy use were significantly associated with reported clinic visitation by ill individuals. Next, a multisectoral CFP surveillance model was conceptualized. A qualitative exploration of the model’s hypothetical integration into TCI’s health system revealed that several systemic and contextual factors could influence the future uptake of interdisciplinary CFP surveillance. Targeted interventions are recommended to improve national CFP surveillance and to facilitate the growth of interdisciplinary networks between stakeholders from TCI’s health, fisheries and environment sectors. / Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ministry of Health and Human Resources of the Turks and Caicos

<p>Background: Globally, neonatal mortality (i.e. deaths occurring during the first month of life) accounts for 44% of the 11 million infants that die every year (Lawn, Cousens &amp / Zupan, 2005). Early&nbsp / detection of illness and referral of mothers and infants during the peri-natal period to higher levels of care can lead to substantial reductions in maternal and child mortality in developing&nbsp / countries. Establishing effective referral systems from the community to health facilities can be achieved through greater utilization of community health workers and improved health seeking&nbsp / behaviour. Study design: The Good Start Saving Newborn Lives study being conducted in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, is a community randomized trial to assess the effect of an integrated home&nbsp / visit package delivered to mothers during pregnancy and post delivery on uptake of PMTCT interventions and appropriate newborn care practices. The home visit package is delivered by community health workers in fifteen intervention clusters. Control clusters receive routine health facility antenatal and postpartum care. For any identified danger signs during a home visit,&nbsp / community health workers write a referral and if necessary refer infants to a local clinic or hospital. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of this referral system by describing&nbsp / community health worker referral completion rates as well as health-care seeking practices and perceptions of mothers. A cross- sectional survey was undertaken using a structured&nbsp / questionnaire with all mothers who had been referred to a clinic or hospital by a community health worker since the start of the Good Start Saving Newborn Lives Trial. Data collection: Informed consent was obtained from willing participants. Interviews were conducted by a trained research assistant in the mothers&rsquo / home or at the study&nbsp / offices. Road to Health Cards were reviewed to confirm referral completion. Data was collected by means of a cell phone (mobile researcher software) and the database was later transferred to Epi-info and STATA IC 11 for analysis.&nbsp / Descriptive analysis was&nbsp / conducted so as to establish associations between explanatory factors and referral completion and to describe referral processes experienced by caregivers. Significant&nbsp / associations between categorical variables were assessed using chi square tests and continuous variables using analysis of variance. Results: A total of 2423 women were&nbsp / enrolled in the SNL study and 148 had received a referral for a sick infant by a CHW by June 2010. The majority (95%) of infants were referred only once during the time of enrolment, the&nbsp / highest number of which occurred within&nbsp / the first 4 weeks of life (62%) with 22% of these being between birth and 2 weeks of age. Almost all mothers (95%) completed the referral by taking&nbsp / their child to a health facility. Difficulty in breathing and rash accounted for the highest number of referrals (26% and 19% respectively). None of the six mothers who did not complete referral recognised any danger signs in their infants. In only 16% of cases did a health worker give written feedback on the outcome of the referral to the referring CHW.&nbsp / Conclusion: This study found&nbsp / high compliance with referrals for sick infants by community health workers in Umlazi. This supports the current primary health care re-engineering process being undertaken by the South&nbsp / African National Department of Health (SANDOH) which will involve the establishment of family health worker teams&nbsp / including community health workers. A key function of these workers will&nbsp / be to conduct antenatal and postnatal visits to women in their homes and to identify and refer ill children. Failure of mothers to identify danger signs in the infant was associated with&nbsp / non-completion of referral. This highlights the need for thorough counseling of mothers during the antenatal and early postnatal period on neonatal danger signs which can be reinforced by&nbsp / community health workers. Most of the referrals in this study were&nbsp / neonates which strengthens the need for home visit packages delivered by community health workers during the antenatal&nbsp / and post-natal period as currently planned by the South African National Department of Health.Recommendations: This study supports the current plans of the Department of Health for greater involvement of CHWs in Primary Health Care. Attention should be given to improving communication between health facilities and CHWs to ensure continuity of care and greater&nbsp / realization of a team approach to PHC.</p>