Role and capacity needs of community based surveillance volunteers in the integrated management of skin neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs): a qualitative study from central Ghana
Abstract Background Community Based Surveillance Volunteers (CBSVs) have been instrumental in the management of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) but a concern that their services in scale up programmes may be affected due to high attrition rates has been widely acknowledged. We explored the roles...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16015-w |
| _version_ | 1827928433537056768 |
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| author | Lucy Owusu Ruth Dede Tuwor Nancy Ackam Aloysius Loglo Bernadette Agbavor Abigail Agbanyo Olivia Dornu Philemon Boasiako Antwi Michael Ntiamoah Oppong Jonathan Kofi Adjei Venus Frimpong Mohammed Kabiru Abass Jacob Novignon Kingsley Asiedu Dennis Odai Laryea Yaw Ampem Amoako Richard Odame Phillips |
| author_facet | Lucy Owusu Ruth Dede Tuwor Nancy Ackam Aloysius Loglo Bernadette Agbavor Abigail Agbanyo Olivia Dornu Philemon Boasiako Antwi Michael Ntiamoah Oppong Jonathan Kofi Adjei Venus Frimpong Mohammed Kabiru Abass Jacob Novignon Kingsley Asiedu Dennis Odai Laryea Yaw Ampem Amoako Richard Odame Phillips |
| author_sort | Lucy Owusu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Community Based Surveillance Volunteers (CBSVs) have been instrumental in the management of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) but a concern that their services in scale up programmes may be affected due to high attrition rates has been widely acknowledged. We explored the roles and capacity needs of existing CBSVs to inform for a successful integrated NTD management programme in Ghana and similar contexts. Methods We conducted qualitative interviews with 50 CBSVs, 21 Community Nurses, 4 Disease control officers, 7 skin NTD researchers, 2 skin NTD patients and a Director of District Health Services in Central Ghana. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed and coded prior to translation and thematic analysis. Results The roles of CBSVs in NTD management were shown to have an impact on disease identification, surveillance, health seeking behaviours and status of CBSVs. Lack of motivation, inadequate structures for engagement of CBSVs within the health system and delayed management of reported cases were identified as gaps that hinder effective delivery of CBSV roles. Provision of incentives as recognition for the unpaid services rendered by CBSVs was seen as a major factor to reduce the rate of CBSV attrition in this scale up programme. Other factors included the formulation of policies by government to guide CBSV engagement, regular training of CBSV in NTD management as well as provision of resources and logistics. Conclusion Measures including continuous training, institution of rewards and incentivization are important for ensuring the sustainability of CBSVs in the provision of skin NTD services in Ghana. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:07:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97e8b9c1414243a099e9c1c647b9dad8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:07:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-97e8b9c1414243a099e9c1c647b9dad82023-06-11T11:27:27ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-06-0123111210.1186/s12889-023-16015-wRole and capacity needs of community based surveillance volunteers in the integrated management of skin neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs): a qualitative study from central GhanaLucy Owusu0Ruth Dede Tuwor1Nancy Ackam2Aloysius Loglo3Bernadette Agbavor4Abigail Agbanyo5Olivia Dornu6Philemon Boasiako Antwi7Michael Ntiamoah Oppong8Jonathan Kofi Adjei9Venus Frimpong10Mohammed Kabiru Abass11Jacob Novignon12Kingsley Asiedu13Dennis Odai Laryea14Yaw Ampem Amoako15Richard Odame Phillips16Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyAgogo Presbyterian HospitalDepartment of Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyWorld Health OrganisationDisease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health ServiceKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Community Based Surveillance Volunteers (CBSVs) have been instrumental in the management of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) but a concern that their services in scale up programmes may be affected due to high attrition rates has been widely acknowledged. We explored the roles and capacity needs of existing CBSVs to inform for a successful integrated NTD management programme in Ghana and similar contexts. Methods We conducted qualitative interviews with 50 CBSVs, 21 Community Nurses, 4 Disease control officers, 7 skin NTD researchers, 2 skin NTD patients and a Director of District Health Services in Central Ghana. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed and coded prior to translation and thematic analysis. Results The roles of CBSVs in NTD management were shown to have an impact on disease identification, surveillance, health seeking behaviours and status of CBSVs. Lack of motivation, inadequate structures for engagement of CBSVs within the health system and delayed management of reported cases were identified as gaps that hinder effective delivery of CBSV roles. Provision of incentives as recognition for the unpaid services rendered by CBSVs was seen as a major factor to reduce the rate of CBSV attrition in this scale up programme. Other factors included the formulation of policies by government to guide CBSV engagement, regular training of CBSV in NTD management as well as provision of resources and logistics. Conclusion Measures including continuous training, institution of rewards and incentivization are important for ensuring the sustainability of CBSVs in the provision of skin NTD services in Ghana.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16015-wCommunity based Surveillance volunteersNeglected Tropical DiseasesMotivationIncentivesSustainabilityGhana |
| spellingShingle | Lucy Owusu Ruth Dede Tuwor Nancy Ackam Aloysius Loglo Bernadette Agbavor Abigail Agbanyo Olivia Dornu Philemon Boasiako Antwi Michael Ntiamoah Oppong Jonathan Kofi Adjei Venus Frimpong Mohammed Kabiru Abass Jacob Novignon Kingsley Asiedu Dennis Odai Laryea Yaw Ampem Amoako Richard Odame Phillips Role and capacity needs of community based surveillance volunteers in the integrated management of skin neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs): a qualitative study from central Ghana BMC Public Health Community based Surveillance volunteers Neglected Tropical Diseases Motivation Incentives Sustainability Ghana |
| title | Role and capacity needs of community based surveillance volunteers in the integrated management of skin neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs): a qualitative study from central Ghana |
| title_full | Role and capacity needs of community based surveillance volunteers in the integrated management of skin neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs): a qualitative study from central Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Role and capacity needs of community based surveillance volunteers in the integrated management of skin neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs): a qualitative study from central Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Role and capacity needs of community based surveillance volunteers in the integrated management of skin neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs): a qualitative study from central Ghana |
| title_short | Role and capacity needs of community based surveillance volunteers in the integrated management of skin neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs): a qualitative study from central Ghana |
| title_sort | role and capacity needs of community based surveillance volunteers in the integrated management of skin neglected tropical diseases skin ntds a qualitative study from central ghana |
| topic | Community based Surveillance volunteers Neglected Tropical Diseases Motivation Incentives Sustainability Ghana |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16015-w |
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