Knowledge and perceptions on childhood asthma among care-takers of children with asthma at a National Referral Hospital in Western Kenya: a descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Identifying knowledge gaps in asthma self-management and identifying existing myths is an important step in determining appropriate health education and demystifying the myths so as to enhance asthma control. OBJECTIVE: To identify existing knowledge gaps and perceptions among the caregivers of asthmatic children. METHODS: A cross sectional study was done among caretakers of asthmatic children aged 6-11 years at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Data on knowledge and perceptions among caretakers was collected using a questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 116 caretakers were recruited of whom 71.6% were mothers. Although 60% of the caretakers had asthma medications at home, only a third felt their children were asthmatic. Eighty four (72.4%) had basic asthma knowledge. Syrups were preferred to inhalers by 70.7%, with 64.7% believing that inhalers were for the very sick. Only 36 (31%) felt preventer medications in asthma were necessary. Acceptance of asthma as a diagnosis and presence of asthma drugs were significantly associated with better knowledge of asthma, p-values 0.015 and 0.009 respectively. CONCLUSION: Most caregivers perceive syrups to be better despite having good basic knowledge on asthma. There is need to address asthma perceptions among caretakers in resource poor settings which is likely to improve control.

Reflexão bioética sobre a responsabilidade de cuidadores de pacientes terminais / Bioethical reflection on the responsibility of caregivers of terminally ill patients / Reflexión sobre la responsabilidad de los cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedades terminales

O presente estudo foi realizado tendo por objetivos conhecer e descrever os significados sobre a terminalidade da vida e responsabilidade do cuidador perante o paciente terminal e promover uma reflexão diante dos impasses advindos destas questões bioéticas. Com método qualitativo-descritivo e diretriz metodológica do discurso do sujeito coletivo, entrevistaram-se 19 cuidadores de pacientes terminais atendidos no Hospital das Clínicas Samuel Libânio da cidade de Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais. A partir dos resultados da pesquisa concluiu-se que a morte causa muita tristeza e emoção. E é no contexto da bioética que o cuidador assume a responsabilidade de cuidar, desdobrando-se em desvelo, compaixão e solidariedade, e demonstrando respeito à vida humana e ao processo de morrer com dignidade.

Este estudio fue realizado y tendrá como objetivo descubrir y describir el significado sobre el carácter terminal de la vida y la responsabilidad del cuidador frente al paciente desahuciado y promover una reflexión sobre las cuestiones bioéticos que surgen. Como orientación fue usado el método cualitativo-descriptivo y directriz metodológica del discurso del sujeto colectivo, fueron entrevistados 19 cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedades terminales atendidos en el Hospital das Clínicas Samuel Libânio de la ciudad de Pouso Alegre, MG. A partir de los resultados de la investigación se concluyó que la muerte causa mucha tristeza y emoción. Y es en el contexto de la bioética que el cuidador asume la responsabilidad del cuidado, esmerándose en desvelo, compasión y solidaridad y demostrar respeto por la vida humana y por el proceso de morir con dignidad.

The present study was performed with the aim to know and describe the meanings about the end of life and the responsibility of the caregiver regarding the terminally patient, as well as to promote a reflection about the impasses that arise from these bioethical issues. As a qualitative descriptive method and methodological guideline of the collective subject speech, 19 caregivers of terminal patients assisted at Hospital das Clínicas Samuel Libânio in Pouso Alegre-MG were interviewed. From the research results it was possible to conclude that death still causes a lot of pain and sadness. It is in the context of bioethics that the caregiver takes the responsibility of taking care with great attention, compassion and solidarity, showing respect to human life and to the process of dying with dignity.

Routine immunization - do people know about it? A study among caretakers of children attending pulse polio immunization in East delhi.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Do caretakers of children under five years have sufficient knowledge regarding routine immunization (RI)? OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge about RI among caretakers of young children. SETTINGS: Pulse polio immunization centres in East Delhi. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred and eighty-two caretakers accompanying children under 5 years to pulse polio booths in November 2006. STUDY TOOL: Pre-tested semi-open-ended questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Proportions, Chi-square test. RESULTS: The proportions of respondents who had awareness about different aspects of RI, such as weekday of RI (37.0%), age group for RI (49.1%), number of visits required in the first year of life (27.0%), were all low. When asked to name the four diseases covered under the RI program in Delhi, only 268 (39.3%) could name at least three. The education level of respondents was strongly associated with their knowledge about RI. CONCLUSION: The need of the hour is to make RI a 'felt need' of the community. Making caretakers more aware about RI is a vital step in achieving this goal.