ArticlePloS one2014
Diagnostic work-up of neurological syndromes in a rural African setting: knowledge, attitudes and practices of health care providers.
Article in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Assessing traditional medicine in the treatment of neurological disorders in Mali: prelude to efficient collaboration.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2024Article
- Communities' Perception, Knowledge, and Practices Related to Human African Trypanosomiasis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Neuroscience education and research in Cameroon: Current status and future direction.IBRO neuroscience reports · 2021Article
- Clinical Spectrum, Etiology, and Outcome of Neurological Disorders in the Rural Hospital of Mosango, the Democratic Republic of Congo.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2017Observational
- Hospitalizations of Children with Huntington's Disease in the United States.Movement disorders clinical practiceArticle
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNeurological disorders of infectious origin are common in rural sub-Saharan Africa and usually have serious consequences. Unfortunately, these syndromes are often poorly documented for lack of diagnostic tools. Clinical management of these diseases is a major challenge in under-equipped rural health centers and hospitals. We documented health care provider knowledge, attitudes and practices related to this syndrome in two rural health zones in Bandundu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
methodsWe used a qualitative research approach combining observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. We observed 20 patient-provider contacts related to a neurological syndrome, conducted 12 individual interviews and 4 focus group discussions with care providers. All interviews were audiotaped and the transcripts were analyzed with the software ATLAS.ti.
resultsCare providers in this region usually limit their diagnostic work-up to clinical examination primarily because of the financial hurdles in this entirely out-of-pocket payment system. The patients prefer to purchase drugs rather than diagnostic tests. Moreover the general lack of diagnostic tools and the representation of the clinician as a "diviner" do not enhance any use of laboratory or other diagnostic methods.
conclusionInnovation in diagnostic technology for neurological disorders is badly needed in Central-Africa, but its uptake in clinical practice will only be a success if tools are simple, affordable and embedded in a patient-centered approach.
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