ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2021
Health beliefs and health seeking behavior towards lymphatic filariasis morbidity management and disability prevention services in Luangwa District, Zambia: Community and provider perspectives.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 35 citations in OpenAlex.
- Intersectional dimensions of stigma in neglected tropical diseases: a systematic review of evidence and implications for equity-based health policy.BMC public health · 2026Pooled it
- Article
- Molecular Characterisation of Fungi Populations in the Chronic Wounds of Filarial Lymphedema Patients in Southern Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2025Article
- Piloting lymphoedema management for lymphatic filariasis: experiences and perceptions of patients and stakeholders from Kwale county, coastal Kenya.BMC public health · 2025Article
- People-centered strategies to mobilize people living with disabilities due to Neglected Tropical Diseases (PD-NTDs) to influence policy and programs: A mixed-methods study in Côte d'Ivoire.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- Social and healthcare-seeking experiences of people affected with lymphedema in Bangladesh.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- Current perspectives in the epidemiology and control of lymphatic filariasis.Clinical microbiology reviews · 2025Review
- Exploring barriers to accessing treatment for Lymphatic Filariasis through a socio-ecological lens in Buvuma and Napak districts, Uganda.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- Lessons from integrating mental health as part of lymphatic filariasis morbidity management and disability prevention services in Jigawa State, Nigeria.International health · 2024Article
- Zambia: A Narrative Review of Success and Challenges in Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2024Review
- Prevalence of elephantiasis, an overlooked disease in Southern Africa: a comprehensive review.The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases · 2024Review
- Article
- Applying community health systems lenses to identify determinants of access to surgery among mobile & migrant populations with hydrocele in Zambia: A mixed methods assessment.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
- Knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals towards people living with lymphoedema caused by lymphatic filariasis, podoconiosis and leprosy in northern Ethiopia.International health · 2022Article
- The viability of utilising phone-based text messages in data capture and reporting morbidities due to lymphatic Filariasis by community health workers: a qualitative study in Kilwa district, Tanzania.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- Effectiveness of community-based burden estimation to achieve elimination of lymphatic filariasis: A comparative cross-sectional investigation in Côte d'Ivoire.PLOS global public health · 2022Article
- Unlocking Trust in Community Health Systems: Lessons From the Lymphatic Filariasis Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention Pilot Project in Luangwa District, Zambia.International journal of health policy and management · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMorbidity management and disability prevention (MMDP) services are essential for the management of chronic stages of lymphatic filariasis (LF) infection. However, there is limited information on health beliefs and health seeking behavior towards MMDP services for LF in endemic regions of Zambia. This study sought to document health beliefs and health seeking behavior towards MMDP services for LF in Luangwa District, Zambia.
methodsThis was an exploratory qualitative study conducted with community members including LF patients, community health workers and healthcare providers. Data was collected through a series of four focus group discussions stratified by sex and 26 in-depth interviews. Data was analyzed by thematic analysis using NVivo software.
resultsThe perceived causes of the chronic manifestations of LF included; contact with animal faeces, use of traditional herbal aphrodisiacs (mutoto), witchcraft and sexual contact with women who were menstruating or had miscarried. LF patients opted to visit traditional healers before going to health facilities. Hydrocele patients were afraid of hydrocelectomies as they were thought to cause infertility or death. Very few community members were able to identify any home and facility-based care strategies for lymphoedema. Health system and cultural barriers to seeking healthcare included; long distances to the health facilities, lack of awareness of existing MMDP services, perceived costs of accessing MMDP services, gender and social norms, and fear of stigmatization.
conclusionHealth seeking behavior for LF in the district is mainly driven by negative beliefs about the causes of the disease and lack of awareness of available MMDP services and homecare strategies. Lymphatic filariasis programs should promote strategies that seek to empower patients and community members with the required information to access and use the MMDP services at the health facilities, as well as adhere to self-care practices in their households.
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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.