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High levels of misconceptions and stigma in a community highly endemic for podoconiosis in southern Ethiopia
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 17:02 authored by Bereket Yakob, Kebede Kassaye, Gail DaveyGail DaveyThe impact of public health interventions for tropical diseases is limited by lack of understanding of the sociocultural context into which these interventions are delivered. Podoconiosis (endemic non-filarial elephantiasis) is a considerable public health problem in Ethiopia, yet little is known about community understanding of it. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of community members towards podoconiosis in a highly endemic area in southern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2007 among 438 study participants selected by multistage probability sampling. Most respondents (93.5%) had seen a patient with podoconiosis and 91.6% had heard of the local terms for podoconiosis. The proportion of respondents holding at least one misconception about causation was 93.4% (95% CI 91.1-95.7%). More than one-half (55.8%) showed stigmatising attitudes towards social interactions with podoconiosis patients and 63.8% had unfavourable attitudes towards the condition. Just over one-half (55.2%) of respondents were wearing shoes during the interview, but shoe wearing was inconsistent and inadequate to prevent podoconiosis. In this highly endemic area, the community held significant misconceptions about causation, care, treatment and prevention of podoconiosis. Community interventions for podoconiosis must include education components aimed at dispelling misconceptions and stigma.
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Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and HygieneISSN
0035-9203Publisher
Oxford University PressExternal DOI
Issue
5Volume
102Page range
439-444Department affiliated with
- Global Health and Infection Publications
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- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2014-06-09First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2014-06-09Usage metrics
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