Browsing by Author "Beshah, Pawelos S."

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    The knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers of children with asthma attending the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, Manzini, Swaziland
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-12) Beshah, Pawelos S.; Pather, Michael; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Family and Emergency Medicine. Family Medicine and Primary Care.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: Globally, 14% of children are affected by asthma. The literature emphasizes patient education the use of inhalers to relieve and control asthma attacks. The objective of the research is to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers of children with asthma who have been treated at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital (RFMH). Aim: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of caregivers of children with asthma who attend the RFMH in Manzini, Swaziland. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive survey was used with simple random sampling to recruit 91 eligible caregivers of children between 2 and 12 years of age with asthma who were seen between December 2015 and December 2017. Selected caregivers were contacted by phone obtained from the hospital’s asthma patient registry. Then, face to face interviews were conducted using a validated semi-structured questionnaire at RFMH, which is the second largest referral hospital in Swaziland serving an estimated 350,000 people. Data was analyzed using SPSS v21. Results: A total of 85.7% of respondent knew and used salbutamol syup as a reliever 9.9% used salbutamol syrup as asthma preventer and none of them knew about and used steroid inhalers. Only 4.4%were confident to use metered dose inhalers. About 80% of participant believe that oral medication is better than metered dose inhalers. About 80% believed that metered dose inhalers are addictive. All of caregivers reported that they do not have regular follow-up appointment visits with their health care providers. Conclusion: This research study shows that knowledge related to childhood asthma and its management of caregivers of children with asthma in Swaziland show room for improvement. Most caregivers had a negative attitude regarding MDI use, which prevents them from using reliever and controller MDIs appropriately. Some of the barriers to the effective management of asthma are caregiver misconceptions about inhalers, poor level of service given by health professional which included absence of regular follow up appointments and lack of evidence-based national asthma guidelines. The KAP of caregivers of children with asthma attending the RFMH in Swaziland demonstrate that asthma related education and management programs show room for improvement. Special attention should be given to educate caregivers regarding their children who are suffering from chronic diseases such as asthma at RFMH, as well as in the country at large.