Factors contributing to primary care givers' delay in presenting children with chronic kidney disease for medical care in Ghana

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dc.contributor.advisorDuma, Sineguguen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAmoah, Abigailen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-08-28T13:06:57Z
dc.date.available2017-08-28T13:06:57Z
dc.date.issued2017en_ZA
dc.description.abstractChronic kidney disease (CKD) in children has become a public health problem in Ghana. The researcher observed that the primary care givers of these children present them late for medical care. This ignited the researcher to conduct this study to identify factors that contribute to primary care givers' delay in seeking early medical care for children with CKD. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the factors that contribute to primary care givers' delay in presenting children who suffer from CKD for medical care in Ghana. A descriptive qualitative design was used to answer the research question: What factors contribute to primary care givers' delay in presenting children with CKD for medical care in Ghana? Convenience sampling was used to recruit ten primary care givers of children admitted for CKD at the Paediatric Renal Unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews and field notes were used to collect data. The thematic data analysis approach of Colaizzi (1978) was used, and the ecological model of Schneider (2017) assisted in organising themes and subthemes. The themes which emerged are: intrapersonal-related factors contributing to delay; interpersonal-related factors contributing to delay; community-related factors contributing to delay; and political-related factors contributing to delay. These were directly related to the research question. A fifth theme which emerged serendipitously is the perceived need for community awareness about CKD. The findings revealed that intrapersonal, interpersonal, community and political level factors influence primary care givers' decisions in seeking medical care for their children. At intrapersonal level factors that played a role were personal attitudes and beliefs; primary care givers' beliefs in traditional medicine as a cure for CKD; their lack of knowledge on CKD and its management; primary care givers' financial constraints; and their beliefs in ancestral spiritual powers for healing. At interpersonal level factors included primary care givers' lack of family support and marital conflicts. At community level factors included primary care givers' delayed referral from the local health facility; incorrect advice received from family and neighbours on management; mismanagement of the disease at the local health facility; and misdiagnosis by neighbours. At political level the distance of the primary care givers' homes from the hospital can contribute to delays. One of the recommendations of the study is development and implementation of a national referral policy for CKD patients to guide health practitioners at the districts. Early referral for appropriate treatment of children with CKD can slow progression of the disease and prevent early mortality. Awareness campaigns need to be developed and implemented by the Ghana Kidney Association to provide health educational programmes for health professionals and communities. Further research using a larger sample or quantitative research methods is also recommended, to gain a better understanding of the factors contributing to delays in presentation of children with CKD in Ghana.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationAmoah, A. (2017). <i>Factors contributing to primary care givers' delay in presenting children with chronic kidney disease for medical care in Ghana</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of Nursing and Midwifery. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24979en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationAmoah, Abigail. <i>"Factors contributing to primary care givers' delay in presenting children with chronic kidney disease for medical care in Ghana."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of Nursing and Midwifery, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24979en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAmoah, A. 2017. Factors contributing to primary care givers' delay in presenting children with chronic kidney disease for medical care in Ghana. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Amoah, Abigail AB - Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children has become a public health problem in Ghana. The researcher observed that the primary care givers of these children present them late for medical care. This ignited the researcher to conduct this study to identify factors that contribute to primary care givers' delay in seeking early medical care for children with CKD. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the factors that contribute to primary care givers' delay in presenting children who suffer from CKD for medical care in Ghana. A descriptive qualitative design was used to answer the research question: What factors contribute to primary care givers' delay in presenting children with CKD for medical care in Ghana? Convenience sampling was used to recruit ten primary care givers of children admitted for CKD at the Paediatric Renal Unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews and field notes were used to collect data. The thematic data analysis approach of Colaizzi (1978) was used, and the ecological model of Schneider (2017) assisted in organising themes and subthemes. The themes which emerged are: intrapersonal-related factors contributing to delay; interpersonal-related factors contributing to delay; community-related factors contributing to delay; and political-related factors contributing to delay. These were directly related to the research question. A fifth theme which emerged serendipitously is the perceived need for community awareness about CKD. The findings revealed that intrapersonal, interpersonal, community and political level factors influence primary care givers' decisions in seeking medical care for their children. At intrapersonal level factors that played a role were personal attitudes and beliefs; primary care givers' beliefs in traditional medicine as a cure for CKD; their lack of knowledge on CKD and its management; primary care givers' financial constraints; and their beliefs in ancestral spiritual powers for healing. At interpersonal level factors included primary care givers' lack of family support and marital conflicts. At community level factors included primary care givers' delayed referral from the local health facility; incorrect advice received from family and neighbours on management; mismanagement of the disease at the local health facility; and misdiagnosis by neighbours. At political level the distance of the primary care givers' homes from the hospital can contribute to delays. One of the recommendations of the study is development and implementation of a national referral policy for CKD patients to guide health practitioners at the districts. Early referral for appropriate treatment of children with CKD can slow progression of the disease and prevent early mortality. Awareness campaigns need to be developed and implemented by the Ghana Kidney Association to provide health educational programmes for health professionals and communities. Further research using a larger sample or quantitative research methods is also recommended, to gain a better understanding of the factors contributing to delays in presentation of children with CKD in Ghana. DA - 2017 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2017 T1 - Factors contributing to primary care givers' delay in presenting children with chronic kidney disease for medical care in Ghana TI - Factors contributing to primary care givers' delay in presenting children with chronic kidney disease for medical care in Ghana UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24979 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/24979
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationAmoah A. Factors contributing to primary care givers' delay in presenting children with chronic kidney disease for medical care in Ghana. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of Nursing and Midwifery, 2017 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24979en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDivision of Nursing and Midwiferyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherNursingen_ZA
dc.titleFactors contributing to primary care givers' delay in presenting children with chronic kidney disease for medical care in Ghanaen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc (Med)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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