PLoS ONE (Jan 2018)

Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to stroke in Ghana and Nigeria: A SIREN call to action.

  • Carolyn Jenkins,
  • Bruce Ovbiagele,
  • Oyedunni Arulogun,
  • Arti Singh,
  • Benedict Calys-Tagoe,
  • Rufus Akinyemi,
  • Aliyu Mande,
  • Ezinne Sylvia Melikam,
  • Albert Akpalu,
  • Kolawole Wahab,
  • Fred Stephen Sarfo,
  • Taofeeq Sanni,
  • Godwin Osaigbovo,
  • Hemant K Tiwari,
  • Reginald Obiako,
  • Vincent Shidali,
  • Philip Ibinaiye,
  • Josephine Akpalu,
  • Godwin Ogbole,
  • Lukman Owolabi,
  • Ezinne Uvere,
  • Raelle Taggae,
  • Abiodun Moshood Adeoye,
  • Mulugeta Gebregziabher,
  • Adeseye Akintunde,
  • Oladimeji Adebayo,
  • Ayodipupo Oguntade,
  • Ayotunde Bisi,
  • Kenneth Ohagwu,
  • Ruth Laryea,
  • Peter Olowoniyi,
  • Isah Suleiman Yahaya,
  • Samuel Olowookere,
  • Frederick Adeyemi,
  • Morenikeji Komolafe,
  • Michael Bimbola Fawale,
  • Taofiki Sunmonu,
  • Ugochukwu Onyeonoro,
  • Lucius Chidiebere Imoh,
  • Wisdom Oguike,
  • Taiye Olunuga,
  • Phillip Kolo,
  • Okechukwu S Ogah,
  • Richard Efidi,
  • Ijezie Chukwuonye,
  • Andrew Bock-Oruma,
  • Dorcas Owusu,
  • Chidi Joseph Odo,
  • Moyinoluwalogo Faniyan,
  • Osimhiarherhuo Adeleye Ohnifeman,
  • Olabanji Ajose,
  • Luqman Ogunjimi,
  • Shelia Johnson,
  • Amusa Ganiyu,
  • Paul Olowoyo,
  • Adekunle Gregory Fakunle,
  • Afolaranmi Tolulope,
  • Temitope Farombi,
  • Monica Oghome Obiabo,
  • Mayowa Owolabi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0206548
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 11
p. e0206548

Abstract

Read online

INTRODUCTION:Stroke is a prominent cause of death, disability, and dementia in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network works collaboratively with stroke survivors and individuals serving as community controls to comprehensively characterize the genomic, sociocultural, economic and behavioral risk factors for stroke in SSA. PURPOSE:In this paper, we aim to: i) explore the attitudes, beliefs, and practices related to stroke in Ghana and Nigeria using the process of qualitative description; and ii) propose actions for future research and community-based participation and education. METHODS:Stroke survivors, their caregivers, health care professionals, and community representatives and faith-based leaders participated in one of twenty-six focus groups, which qualitatively explored community beliefs, attitudes and practices related to stroke in Ghana and Nigeria. Arthur Kleinman's Explanatory Model of Illness and the Social Ecological Model guided the questions and/or thematic analysis of the qualitative data. We hereby describe our focus group methods and analyses of qualitative data, as well as the findings and suggestions for improving stroke outcomes. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:The major findings illustrate the fears, causes, chief problems, treatment, and recommendations related to stroke through the views of the participants, as well as recommendations for working effectively with the SIREN communities. Findings are compared to SIREN quantitative data and other qualitative studies in Africa. As far as we are aware, this is the first paper to qualitatively explore and contrast community beliefs, attitudes, and practices among stroke survivors and their caregivers, community and faith-based leaders, and health professionals in multiple communities within Nigeria and Ghana.