Sahel Medical Journal (Jan 2011)
Parental reasons and perception of traditional uvulectomy in children
Abstract
Background: The practice of traditional uvulectomy in children is common in Africa. This is usually propagated by traditional health providers, the disease causal attributions by the uvula are the main influencing factors for subjecting children to the procedure. Objectives: To ascerlain the parent′s reasons and perception of traditional uvulectomy in children, their educational and socioeconomic status. Methods: A one year prospective survey on all parents of children aged 15yrs and below presenting to our facilities and who were found to have an amputated uvula. A structured interviewer- questionnaire was administered to 385 parents; the interviewer-questionnaire contained the child′s demographic data, age of the child at uvulectomy, the parent′s educational level and occupation and also the parent′s perception on the diseases caused by the uvula. The data collated was analyzed using. the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software, version 16.0. Results: A total of 385 children with amputated uvula were studied, males constituted, 52.7%, and females, 47.3%. The commonest disease perception attributed to the uvula was frequent throat infections, 102(260.5%)0 . other perceptions include failure-to-thrive, 43(111 .2%), and some multiple disease occurrence which includes diarrhea and vomiting. The educational levels of the parents were mostly, non-formal, 194 (50.4%), with a significant disease attribution correlation, p=<0.005. Most of the parents were of the socio2-economic ciess3-v, 162(42.1 %), with a significant disease attribution correlation, p=<0.005. Conclusion: The main parental reason for traditional uvulectomy in children was found to be frequent throat infections and some multiple disease occurrences, parental poverly and lack of formal education were some of the major influencing factors, hence we recommend that, formal education, especially health education and creation of employments by the government will help in alleviating such practices4.
