‘It is the child with the big head’ – Primary healthcare providers’ perceptions of paediatric hydrocephalus in Blantyre, Malawi: A qualitative study
ABSTRACTChildren in Africa are disproportionately burdened by the neurosurgical condition hydrocephalus. In Blantyre, Malawi, paediatric hydrocephalus represents the majority of surgical procedures performed in the neurosurgical department at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. To reduce morbidity and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Global Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2023.2276242 |
| _version_ | 1797633371893923840 |
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| author | Camilla G. Aukrust Patrick D. Kamalo Gertrude Finyiza Chimwemwe Mula Blessings A. Chapweteka Heidi E. Fjeld Lucinda Manda-Taylor |
| author_facet | Camilla G. Aukrust Patrick D. Kamalo Gertrude Finyiza Chimwemwe Mula Blessings A. Chapweteka Heidi E. Fjeld Lucinda Manda-Taylor |
| author_sort | Camilla G. Aukrust |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTChildren in Africa are disproportionately burdened by the neurosurgical condition hydrocephalus. In Blantyre, Malawi, paediatric hydrocephalus represents the majority of surgical procedures performed in the neurosurgical department at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. To reduce morbidity and mortality, timely detection followed by referral from surrounding primary health centres is crucial. Aiming to explore perceptions and identify enablers and barriers to detection and referral, we conducted a qualitative study among primary healthcare providers (n = 30) from ten health centres in Blantyre district. Using a semi-structured interview-guide, we audio-recorded and transcribed the interviews before conducting a thematic analysis. One main finding is that there is a potential to improve detection through head circumference measurements, which is the recommended way to detect hydrocephalus early, yet healthcare providers did not carry this out systematically. They described the health passport provided by the Malawian Ministry of Health as an important tool for clinical communication. However, head circumference growth charts are not included. To optimise outcomes for paediatric hydrocephalus we suggest including head circumference growth charts in the health passports. To meet the need for comprehensive management of paediatric hydrocephalus, we recommend more research from the continent, focusing on bridging the gap between primary care and neurosurgery. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:53:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf2a3ad2788f4381b6d1ca8f1ab60fa0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1744-1692 1744-1706 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:53:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf2a3ad2788f4381b6d1ca8f1ab60fa02023-11-08T22:53:59ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062023-01-0118110.1080/17441692.2023.2276242‘It is the child with the big head’ – Primary healthcare providers’ perceptions of paediatric hydrocephalus in Blantyre, Malawi: A qualitative studyCamilla G. Aukrust0Patrick D. Kamalo1Gertrude Finyiza2Chimwemwe Mula3Blessings A. Chapweteka4Heidi E. Fjeld5Lucinda Manda-Taylor6Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital-Rikshospitalet, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Neurosurgery, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Ministry of Health, Blantyre Institute of Neurological Sciences, Blantyre, MalawiIndependent Researcher, Blantyre, MalawiClinical Nursing Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, MalawiChild Help Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, Blantyre, MalawiDepartment of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Health Systems and Policy, School of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, MalawiABSTRACTChildren in Africa are disproportionately burdened by the neurosurgical condition hydrocephalus. In Blantyre, Malawi, paediatric hydrocephalus represents the majority of surgical procedures performed in the neurosurgical department at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. To reduce morbidity and mortality, timely detection followed by referral from surrounding primary health centres is crucial. Aiming to explore perceptions and identify enablers and barriers to detection and referral, we conducted a qualitative study among primary healthcare providers (n = 30) from ten health centres in Blantyre district. Using a semi-structured interview-guide, we audio-recorded and transcribed the interviews before conducting a thematic analysis. One main finding is that there is a potential to improve detection through head circumference measurements, which is the recommended way to detect hydrocephalus early, yet healthcare providers did not carry this out systematically. They described the health passport provided by the Malawian Ministry of Health as an important tool for clinical communication. However, head circumference growth charts are not included. To optimise outcomes for paediatric hydrocephalus we suggest including head circumference growth charts in the health passports. To meet the need for comprehensive management of paediatric hydrocephalus, we recommend more research from the continent, focusing on bridging the gap between primary care and neurosurgery.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2023.2276242HydrocephalusMalawipaediatricsglobal neurosurgeryIGAP |
| spellingShingle | Camilla G. Aukrust Patrick D. Kamalo Gertrude Finyiza Chimwemwe Mula Blessings A. Chapweteka Heidi E. Fjeld Lucinda Manda-Taylor ‘It is the child with the big head’ – Primary healthcare providers’ perceptions of paediatric hydrocephalus in Blantyre, Malawi: A qualitative study Global Public Health Hydrocephalus Malawi paediatrics global neurosurgery IGAP |
| title | ‘It is the child with the big head’ – Primary healthcare providers’ perceptions of paediatric hydrocephalus in Blantyre, Malawi: A qualitative study |
| title_full | ‘It is the child with the big head’ – Primary healthcare providers’ perceptions of paediatric hydrocephalus in Blantyre, Malawi: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | ‘It is the child with the big head’ – Primary healthcare providers’ perceptions of paediatric hydrocephalus in Blantyre, Malawi: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘It is the child with the big head’ – Primary healthcare providers’ perceptions of paediatric hydrocephalus in Blantyre, Malawi: A qualitative study |
| title_short | ‘It is the child with the big head’ – Primary healthcare providers’ perceptions of paediatric hydrocephalus in Blantyre, Malawi: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | it is the child with the big head primary healthcare providers perceptions of paediatric hydrocephalus in blantyre malawi a qualitative study |
| topic | Hydrocephalus Malawi paediatrics global neurosurgery IGAP |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2023.2276242 |
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