Browsing by Author "Phethi, Chisomo"
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- ItemOpen AccessPerceptions of stroke patients on physiotherapy services at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre district, Malawi(Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2009-12-04) Phethi, ChisomoPhysiotherapy which is all services to people and populations that help to develop maintain, restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout their life span is critical in organized stroke care and it is perceived as a key discipline. Malawi as a developing country in Africa is under pressure in achieving the quality care for stroke patients due to a number of problems which include; the increasing prevalence and incidents of stroke cases for the last century due to, changes in the environmental determinants and risk factors against limited health facilities to support the increasing demand for physiotherapy services. This is evidenced by presence of only four Government central hospitals; Queen Elizabeth Central hospital, Zomba Central Hospital, Kamuzu Central Hospital and Mzuzu Central Hospital providing physiotherapy services. There is also inadequate number of qualified personal against the increasing cases of stroke which has resulted in congestion and low standard care which is likely to cause more disability after stroke. The situation can only be reversed for the better, if physiotherapy services are improved by increasing health facilities for provision of physiotherapy services to stroke patients, training more staff in the field and providing adequate resources in the department because functional outcome after stroke is improved by more intensive or sustained physiotherapy. This framework and study, entitled perceptions of stroke patients on physiotherapy services aims to explore how stroke patients perceive the services being provided at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital specifically the physiotherapy Department. Fifteen participants with stroke attending physiotherapy services at QECH were purposively selected to participate in the study. The major constraints in the study were the increasing prevalence of stroke against inadequate personal. At the same time, because QECH was one the only four hospitals providing physiotherapy in the district, many patients were forced to travel long distances Respondents in the study also pointed out that, even resources were inadequate for example physiotherapy equipment which they perceived as having an effect on their progress and it was likely to contribute to disability after stroke. According to the study, the following were the results; A significant proportion of the participants, (80% percent) said that they heard about physiotherapy from either friends or relatives. It was communicated to them that physiotherapy services involve doing exercises in order to regain and maintain muscle strength specifically for individuals with mobility problems due to accidents or stroke. However, twenty percent of the participants indicated that the information was given by a health provider at the Outpatient Department (OPD) after being diagnosed with stroke. Initially they did not have any idea as to what physiotherapy is all about. Participants highlighted that the health personal did not explain well or address the issue in details on what is involved in physiotherapy for example; the duration of treatment that it takes a long period of time and the possible outcome after treatment. This was challenging for some patients because it contributed to stress due to frustration when the prognosis was poor for the first days. The interviews revealed that despite the participants having inadequate information from the health personal about physiotherapy as treatment for stroke, 93.3 percent perceived it as the best treatment because physiotherapy had a positive impact on their lives and were satisfied in terms of treatment although they fäced challenges like transport costs. Most of them highlighted the importance of physiotherapy which include the following improvements; being able to walk, perform activities of daily living and speech these were likely to be prevented disability in stroke patients. The participants identified long distance, inadequate staff and equipment to be major challenges in accessing physiotherapy services. In general, the respondents had positive perception towards physiotherapy services. The report proposes a new framework that is based on perceptions of stroke patients on physiotherapy services in response to the identified constraints and challenges in accessing physiotherapy services.
- ItemOpen AccessA qualitative exploration on use of long acting reversible contraceptives among married women at Mzimba South District Hospital(2021-04-01) Phethi, ChisomoLong acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) are safe, cost-effective, and highly effective in the prevention of unplanned pregnancies for almost all women in the reproductive age group. Nationally, most married women 30% (4839) use Depo Provera with a high discontinuation rate of 41%, while 12% (1936) use Implants and 1 % (161) IUD, with a discontinuation rate of 8% for both. Records at Mzimba South District Hospital for the 2016-2017 fiscal year on the use of Implants and IUD among married women remains very low. Literature on quantitative studies indicates lack of knowledge, dependence on a provider for information, partner disapproval, myths, and misconceptions as some of the underlying factors to low uptake of Implants and IUD and yet did not capture detailed reasons as to why married women do not use Implants and IUD. The aim was to explore factors influencing the use of LARC among married women at Mzimba South District Hospital and a descriptive exploratory qualitative design was used. A purposive sample of 10 married couples was used. Data were analysed manually using thematic content analysis. The study findings generated 5 themes: inadequate knowledge of married women and their partners on Implants and IUD, source of information about Implants and IUD, reasons for partner approval/disapproval to use of Implants and IUD, reasons why married women do not use Implants and IUD for family planning, myths, and misconceptions among couples on use of Implants and IUD, perceptions of couples on use of Implants and IUD. Several factors influenced the use of Implants and IUD such as inadequate knowledge, myths and misconceptions, men’s approval, cultural beliefs, provider bias, health problems and side effects. Comprehensive contraceptive counselling on LARC is essential in knowledge acquisition hence promote LARC uptake among couples at the facility level.