ArticlePloS one2019
Community perceptions of paediatric severe anaemia in Uganda.
Article in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Post-discharge morbidity and mortality in children admitted with severe anaemia and other health conditions in malaria-endemic settings in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The Lancet. Child & adolescent health · 2022Pooled it
- Health seeking behaviour of caregivers of children under five and its determinants in Ho West and Adaklu districts, Volta Region, Ghana: a community-based cross-sectional study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Estimating the burden of severe malarial anaemia and access to hospital care in East Africa.Nature communications · 2023Article
- Animated educational video using health belief model on the knowledge of anemia prevention among female adolescents: An intervention study.Malaysian family physician : the official journal of the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia · 2022Article
- Perceptions and beliefs about anaemia: A qualitative study in three agroecological regions of Ghana.Maternal & child nutrition · 2021Article
- Reactions to and explanations for the birth of a baby with albinism: a qualitative study in Busoga, Uganda.BMJ open · 2021Article
- "Satanism is witchcraft's younger sibling": Changing perceptions of natural and supernatural anaemia causality in Malawian children.PloS one · 2021Article
- Varied Age of First Presentation of Sickle Cell Disease: Case Presentations and Review.Case reports in medicine · 2021Article
- Neurodevelopmental performance among pre-schoolers treated for severe anaemia at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda.PloS one · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSevere anaemia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in sub-Saharan Africa. There is limited research on the beliefs and knowledge for paediatric severe anaemia in the region. The effect of these local beliefs and knowledge on the healthcare seeking of paediatric severe anaemia remains unknown.
objectiveTo describe community perceptions of paediatric severe anaemia in Uganda.
methodsSixteen in-depth interviews of caregivers of children treated for severe anaemia and six focus group discussions of community members were conducted in three regions of Uganda between October and November 2017.
resultsThere was no common local name used to describe paediatric severe anaemia, but the disease was understood in context as 'having no blood'. Severe anaemia was identified to be a serious disease and the majority felt blood transfusion was the ideal treatment, but concomitant use of traditional and home remedies was also widespread. Participants articulated signs of severe pediatric anemia, such as palmar, conjunctival, and tongue pallor. Other signs described included jaundice, splenomegaly, difficulty in breathing and poor appetite. Poor feeding, malaria, splenomegaly and evil spirits were perceived to be the common causes of severe anaemia. Other causes included: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), haemoglobinuria, fever, witchcraft, mosquito bites, and sickle cell. Splenomegaly and jaundice were perceived to be both signs and causes of severe anaemia. Severe anaemia was interpreted to be caused by evil spirits if it was either recurrent, led to sudden death, or manifested with cold extremities.
conclusionThe community in Uganda perceived paediatric severe anaemia as a serious disease. Their understanding of the signs and perceived causes of severe anaemia to a large extent aligned with known clinical signs and biological causes. Belief in evil spirits persists and may be one obstacle to seeking timely medical care for paediatric severe anaemia.
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