Assessing The Impact Of Buruli Ulcer Public Health Programmes On Health Seeking Behavior In The Suhum Kraboa-Coaltar District Of Ghana

ABSTRACT Buruli ulcer remains one of the most devastating but at the same time neglected diseases humans have encountered in the recent centuries since it was discovered. The disease threatens the whole country with a national prevalence rate of 20.7 per 100,000. The inadequate appreciation of the socio-cultural context of the disease, which is directly linked to the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of the people as far as the disease is concerned, is a matter that calls for attention. This study investigated the public health programmes for Buruli ulcer and its effect on the health seeking behavior of the people of Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar of the Eastern Region of Ghana, one of the endemic districts of Buruli ulcer. The study used an exploratory qualitative design. It employed in-depth interview as the main data collection method. The main instrument used in collecting primary data for this study was an interview guide. The design of the interview guide was based on the specific objectives of the study. The researcher and 2 trained field assistants administered the interviews. A thorough review of the various projects was carried out through site visits and interviews of project staff, and key informants. Interviewees included key members from all stakeholder groups, partners in Buruli control, and beneficiaries. Various site visits were carried out, focusing especially on the assessment of specific objectives and activities of the Buruli ulcer programme. In doing this, two research assistants were trained to conduct ten interviews in the district over a period of six weeks from 15th May to 29th June 2012. The interviews were guided by an interview guide who focused on the objectives of the study. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Major themes were identified in line with the objectives of the study before doing the relevant analysis. The findings of the study showed that BU affects all persons, irrespective of age and sex but females and the less educated were found to be more prone to the disease. Moreover, the public health programmes in the form of health vi talks, home based and clinical based care, screening and mobile treatments, have contributed in reducing the myth surrounding the disease as having spiritual causes. Most infected people now understand the natural causes of the disease and attended BU clinics regularly for treatment. The study recommends among other issues, the intensification of the public health programmes to deepen the understanding of the people and the institutionalization of the operations of mobile treatment and care that brings treatment to the door steps of infected persons. The need to improve the road network in the district has also been emphasized as a way of making movement from the communities to the treatment centre easier for infected persons.