Health-Seeking Behavior of Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Rural Communities of Ghana
Background: This study examined the health-seeking behaviors of patients with diabetes and hypertension in rural communities in Ghana. In Ghana, most studies on diabetes and hypertension are clinically oriented. However, medical-sociological truism suggests that attitudes towards health and illnesse...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Adventist University of Africa
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | Pan-African Journal of Health and Environmental Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.aua.ke/ajhes/article/view/219 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850193664606732288 |
|---|---|
| author | Michael Amponsah Kodom |
| author_facet | Michael Amponsah Kodom |
| author_sort | Michael Amponsah Kodom |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: This study examined the health-seeking behaviors of patients with diabetes and hypertension in rural communities in Ghana. In Ghana, most studies on diabetes and hypertension are clinically oriented. However, medical-sociological truism suggests that attitudes towards health and illnesses, such as hypertension and diabetes, have a social-cultural perspective.
Method: This study adopted a qualitative approach where twenty (20) participants who were either diabetic, hypertensive, or both were interviewed.
Results: One of the study's significant findings was that diabetics/hypertensives use only orthodox hospitals to treat their conditions. Another finding was that the problems and challenges diabetics and hypertensives face include financial difficulties, social isolation, and stigmatization.
Conclusion: Recommendations were made based on these findings. For instance, the registered traditional medicine practitioners should collaborate with the Ghana Health Service to intensify education on the importance of using certified traditional medicines in the treatment and management of diabetes and hypertension and provide customer-age-factor services at the various health facilities for persons with chronic diseases such as diabetics and hypertension. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-315b6a2f425d4cdeb6f95e4adbb5fc76 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2789-6196 2789-620X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Adventist University of Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pan-African Journal of Health and Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-315b6a2f425d4cdeb6f95e4adbb5fc762025-08-20T02:14:11ZengAdventist University of AfricaPan-African Journal of Health and Environmental Science2789-61962789-620X2022-12-011211610.56893/ajhes.2022-v1i2.219166Health-Seeking Behavior of Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Rural Communities of GhanaMichael Amponsah Kodom0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5337-5207a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:30:"Valley View University, Accra ";}Background: This study examined the health-seeking behaviors of patients with diabetes and hypertension in rural communities in Ghana. In Ghana, most studies on diabetes and hypertension are clinically oriented. However, medical-sociological truism suggests that attitudes towards health and illnesses, such as hypertension and diabetes, have a social-cultural perspective. Method: This study adopted a qualitative approach where twenty (20) participants who were either diabetic, hypertensive, or both were interviewed. Results: One of the study's significant findings was that diabetics/hypertensives use only orthodox hospitals to treat their conditions. Another finding was that the problems and challenges diabetics and hypertensives face include financial difficulties, social isolation, and stigmatization. Conclusion: Recommendations were made based on these findings. For instance, the registered traditional medicine practitioners should collaborate with the Ghana Health Service to intensify education on the importance of using certified traditional medicines in the treatment and management of diabetes and hypertension and provide customer-age-factor services at the various health facilities for persons with chronic diseases such as diabetics and hypertension.https://journals.aua.ke/ajhes/article/view/219diabeteshypertensivesrural communitieshealth-seeking behaviorghana |
| spellingShingle | Michael Amponsah Kodom Health-Seeking Behavior of Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Rural Communities of Ghana Pan-African Journal of Health and Environmental Science diabetes hypertensives rural communities health-seeking behavior ghana |
| title | Health-Seeking Behavior of Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Rural Communities of Ghana |
| title_full | Health-Seeking Behavior of Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Rural Communities of Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Health-Seeking Behavior of Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Rural Communities of Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health-Seeking Behavior of Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Rural Communities of Ghana |
| title_short | Health-Seeking Behavior of Diabetic and Hypertensive Patients in Rural Communities of Ghana |
| title_sort | health seeking behavior of diabetic and hypertensive patients in rural communities of ghana |
| topic | diabetes hypertensives rural communities health-seeking behavior ghana |
| url | https://journals.aua.ke/ajhes/article/view/219 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michaelamponsahkodom healthseekingbehaviorofdiabeticandhypertensivepatientsinruralcommunitiesofghana |