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. 2018 Nov 16;13(11):e0206548.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206548. eCollection 2018.

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

Carolyn Jenkins  1 , Bruce Ovbiagele  2 , Oyedunni Arulogun  3 , Arti Singh  4 , Benedict Calys-Tagoe  5 , Rufus Akinyemi  6 , Aliyu Mande  7 , Ezinne Sylvia Melikam  3 , Albert Akpalu  5 , Kolawole Wahab  8 , Fred Stephen Sarfo  9 , Taofeeq Sanni  10 , Godwin Osaigbovo  11 , Hemant K Tiwari  12 , Reginald Obiako  13 , Vincent Shidali  13 , Philip Ibinaiye  11 , Josephine Akpalu  5 , Godwin Ogbole  3 , Lukman Owolabi  7 , Ezinne Uvere  3 , Raelle Taggae  2 , Abiodun Moshood Adeoye  3 , Mulugeta Gebregziabher  14 , Adeseye Akintunde  15 , Oladimeji Adebayo  3 , Ayodipupo Oguntade  3 , Ayotunde Bisi  3 , Kenneth Ohagwu  16 , Ruth Laryea  5 , Peter Olowoniyi  16 , Isah Suleiman Yahaya  17 , Samuel Olowookere  18 , Frederick Adeyemi  19 , Morenikeji Komolafe  18 , Michael Bimbola Fawale  18 , Taofiki Sunmonu  19 , Ugochukwu Onyeonoro  16 , Lucius Chidiebere Imoh  20 , Wisdom Oguike  13 , Taiye Olunuga  6 , Phillip Kolo  21 , Okechukwu S Ogah  3 , Richard Efidi  22 , Ijezie Chukwuonye  23 , Andrew Bock-Oruma  24 , Dorcas Owusu  9 , Chidi Joseph Odo  3 , Moyinoluwalogo Faniyan  3 , Osimhiarherhuo Adeleye Ohnifeman  6 , Olabanji Ajose  18 , Luqman Ogunjimi  3 , Shelia Johnson  1 , Amusa Ganiyu  25 , Paul Olowoyo  26 , Adekunle Gregory Fakunle  27 , Afolaranmi Tolulope  28 , Temitope Farombi  29 , Monica Oghome Obiabo  30 , Mayowa Owolabi  3
Affiliations

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

Carolyn Jenkins et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Focus group questions.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Overview of steps in the siren focus group process for reporting, analyzing and reporting findings [37].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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