IADR Abstract Archives
KNOWLEDGE of PRIMARY HEALTHCARE WORKERS ABOUT RISK FACTORS, CLINICAL PRESENTATION, MANAGEMENT and REFERRAL PATTERNS for PATIENTS WITH OROFACIAL CLEFT
Objectives: This study evaluated the knowledge of healthcare workers in primary healthcare centers on risk factors, clinical presentation, management and referral patterns for patients with orofacial cleft.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted 277 consenting primary healthcare workers practicing across the 13 villages in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun state using a self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge of risk factors for cleft was assessed with seven (7) questions and knowledge of clinical presentation was assessed with seven (7) questions. Level of knowledge was categorized into Good, Fair, and Poor.
Results: A total of 232 questionnaires were adequately filled by primary healthcare workers who consisted of community health workers (Community Health Extension Workers, Community Health Officers, Traditional Birth Attendants/Village Health Worker, Social Worker) and clinical staffs (Doctors, Nurses, and Midwives). One hundred and thirty-nine (103 Community health workers and 36 Clinical staffs), 60% of them reported prior management of cleft patients. Level of knowledge of risk factors for cleft was poor in 81% of Community workers and 41% of the Clinical staffs. Level of knowledge of clinical presentation was better with 40% of the Community workers having good knowledge. Community workers had significantly better knowledge of clinical presentations and problems associated with cleft (p<0.001) compared with the clinical staffs. On management and referral patterns for patients, one hundred and three (64%) of community health workers have had a cleft patient where eighty-two (80%) of them referred immediately to a tertiary healthcare center for management. Only 15.9% of respondents knew that treatment for the disorder is free in Nigeria.
Conclusions: There is an inadequate knowledge of primary healthcare professionals practicing in Ifo local government area of Ogun state about etiology, clinical presentation and initial management of patients with cleft lip and palate. There is a need for focused education of workers in primary healthcare facilities to improve outcomes for patients with orofacial clefts.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted 277 consenting primary healthcare workers practicing across the 13 villages in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun state using a self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge of risk factors for cleft was assessed with seven (7) questions and knowledge of clinical presentation was assessed with seven (7) questions. Level of knowledge was categorized into Good, Fair, and Poor.
Results: A total of 232 questionnaires were adequately filled by primary healthcare workers who consisted of community health workers (Community Health Extension Workers, Community Health Officers, Traditional Birth Attendants/Village Health Worker, Social Worker) and clinical staffs (Doctors, Nurses, and Midwives). One hundred and thirty-nine (103 Community health workers and 36 Clinical staffs), 60% of them reported prior management of cleft patients. Level of knowledge of risk factors for cleft was poor in 81% of Community workers and 41% of the Clinical staffs. Level of knowledge of clinical presentation was better with 40% of the Community workers having good knowledge. Community workers had significantly better knowledge of clinical presentations and problems associated with cleft (p<0.001) compared with the clinical staffs. On management and referral patterns for patients, one hundred and three (64%) of community health workers have had a cleft patient where eighty-two (80%) of them referred immediately to a tertiary healthcare center for management. Only 15.9% of respondents knew that treatment for the disorder is free in Nigeria.
Conclusions: There is an inadequate knowledge of primary healthcare professionals practicing in Ifo local government area of Ogun state about etiology, clinical presentation and initial management of patients with cleft lip and palate. There is a need for focused education of workers in primary healthcare facilities to improve outcomes for patients with orofacial clefts.