ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2020
Language and beliefs in relation to noma: a qualitative study, northwest Nigeria.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2020. 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, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence and associated risk factors for noma in Nigerian children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC oral health · 2024Pooled it
- Healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices of noma in Northwest Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- [KAP' (Knowledge Attitude Practices) survey of the population and health professionals regarding oral health and noma in 2012 in the Sahel region, Burkina Faso].Medecine tropicale et sante internationale · 2025Article
- Patterns and predictors of cultural competence practice among Nigerian hospital-based healthcare professionals.BMC medical education · 2023Article
- Noma: a PubMed-based informetric analysis of a neglected tropical orofacial disease in Nigeria.Sudanese journal of paediatrics · 2023Article
- Is noma a neglected/overlooked tropical disease?Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2022Article
- Noma staging: a review.Tropical medicine and health · 2022Review
- Noma (cancrum oris): A scoping literature review of a neglected disease (1843 to 2021).PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2021Article
- Model of care, Noma Children's Hospital, northwest Nigeria.Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNoma is an orofacial gangrene that rapidly disintegrates the tissues of the face. Little is known about noma, as most patients live in underserved and inaccessible regions. We aimed to assess the descriptive language used and beliefs around noma, at the Noma Children's Hospital in Sokoto, Nigeria. Findings will be used to inform prevention programs.
methodsFive focus group discussions (FGD) were held with caretakers of patients with noma who were admitted to the hospital at the time of interview, and 12 in-depth interviews (IDI) were held with staff at the hospital. Topic guides used for interviews were adapted to encourage the natural flow of conversation. Emergent codes, patterns and themes were deciphered from the data derived from IDI's and FGDs.
resultsOur study uncovered two main themes: names, descriptions and explanations for the disease, and risks and consequences of noma. Naming of the disease differed between caretakers and heath care workers. The general names used for noma illustrate the beliefs and social system used to explain the disease. Beliefs were varied; participant responses demonstrate a wide range of understanding of the disease and its causes. Difficulty in accessing care for patients with noma was evident and the findings suggest a variety of actions taking place before reaching a health center or health worker. Patient caretakers mentioned that barriers to care included a lack of knowledge regarding this medical condition, as well as a lack of trust in seeking medical care. Participants in our study spoke of the mental health strain the disease placed on them, particularly due to the stigma that is associated with noma.
conclusionsCaretaker and practitioner perspectives enhance our understanding of the disease in this context and can be used to improve treatment and prevention programs, and to better understand barriers to accessing health care. Differences in disease naming illustrate the difference in beliefs about the disease. This has an impact on health seeking behaviours, which for noma cases has important ramifications on outcomes, due to the rapid progression of the disease.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.