OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the three self-care Groups on ulcer prevalence and readmission rates in Okegbala hospital.
DESIGN: A retrospective, descriptive study. The evaluation combined four data collection methods namely (i) records survey, (ii) semi-structured interviews of individual members of self-care groups, (iii) group discussions and (iv) key informant interviews.
RESULTS: Record surveys show that the ulcer prevalence has decreased by almost 75% since the adoption of the self-care group; admissions to hospital for ulcer care have reduced, and the mean interval between admissions has increased by 7 months. Semi structured interviews and group discussions show that all members have a greater sense of control of their ulcers and general health; and that self-care groups have a potential of catalysing community solidarity and development.
CONCLUSIONS: This small study shows that self-care groups are valuable for reducing ulcers and giving members a greater sense of control of their ulcers and general health resulting in fewer hospital admissions. We recommend a multi-centre, controlled, prospective study incorporating different settings (e.g. urban, rural, near hospitals, within field leprosy programmes) to test these findings. Such a study has the potential of influencing policy and health-service reorientation of ulcer care in future.
BT - Leprosy review C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19743623?dopt=Abstract CN - EBENSO 2009 DA - 2009 Jun IS - 2 J2 - Lepr Rev LA - eng N2 -OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the three self-care Groups on ulcer prevalence and readmission rates in Okegbala hospital.
DESIGN: A retrospective, descriptive study. The evaluation combined four data collection methods namely (i) records survey, (ii) semi-structured interviews of individual members of self-care groups, (iii) group discussions and (iv) key informant interviews.
RESULTS: Record surveys show that the ulcer prevalence has decreased by almost 75% since the adoption of the self-care group; admissions to hospital for ulcer care have reduced, and the mean interval between admissions has increased by 7 months. Semi structured interviews and group discussions show that all members have a greater sense of control of their ulcers and general health; and that self-care groups have a potential of catalysing community solidarity and development.
CONCLUSIONS: This small study shows that self-care groups are valuable for reducing ulcers and giving members a greater sense of control of their ulcers and general health resulting in fewer hospital admissions. We recommend a multi-centre, controlled, prospective study incorporating different settings (e.g. urban, rural, near hospitals, within field leprosy programmes) to test these findings. Such a study has the potential of influencing policy and health-service reorientation of ulcer care in future.
PY - 2009 SP - 187 EP - 96 T2 - Leprosy review TI - Self care groups and ulcer prevention in Okegbala, Nigeria. UR - https://leprosyreview.org/article/80/2/18-7196 VL - 80 SN - 0305-7518 ER -