Abstract
Introduction
Timely identification and treatment of a streptococcal throat infection prevents acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its progression to Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). However, children in developing countries still present with established RHD, due to either missed, untreated or sub-optimally treated sore throats and ARF. We aimed to determine the level of knowledge, skills, and practices of primary health workers in South Western Uganda in providing care such children.
Methods
We conducted a comparative quantitative cross-sectional study to assess knowledge, practices, and skills regarding the care of a child with a sore throat, ARF, and RHD. The responses were scored against a structured guide. The Fisher’s exact test and the chi-squared test with level of significance set at 0.05 were utilized to compare differences in knowledge, skills, and practices among health workers in private and public health facilities about ARF and RHD.
Results
Eighty health workers from health facilities were interviewed in Mbarara district with a median age of 29.5 years (IQR 27.34) and median duration in practice of 5 years (IQR: 2, 10). On average, there were at least 3 children with sore throats weekly. At least 95% (CI: 87.25%–98.80%) of the health worker had awareness about ARF and RHD. Only 43.75% (95% CI: 33.18%–54.91%) had good knowledge about ARF and RHD. Majority, 61.25% (95% CI: 50.03%−71.39%) did not know the proper prophylaxis and investigations for a child with ARF. There were no statistically significant differences but a clinically meaningful differentials in the level of knowledge among health workers in public and private facilities.
Conclusion
The knowledge and skill level of health workers in primary healthcare facilities about ARF and RHD in South Western Uganda remains low, with no difference between practitioners in public and private facilities.
Abbreviations
ARF, acute rheumatic fever; RHD, rheumatic heart disease; LMIC, low- and middle-income countries.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the research assistants who helped in data collection including Isaac Nayebare, Elijah Bulega, and Nathan Murungi. We also thank all the health workers who participated in this research study.
Author Contributions
All the authors significantly contributed to this work. This is in the conception, study design, execution, data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation. They all participated in drafting, revising, and critically reviewing the article. All the authors gave final approval of the version to be published, agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors declare no conflict of interest.