TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptions of the roles, impact, challenges and needs of community drug distributors in the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases in difficult-to-access communities in Ghana
AU - Forson, Akua Obeng
AU - Awuah, Raphael Baffour
AU - Mohammed, Abdul Rahim
AU - Owusu-Asenso, Christopher Mfum
AU - Atakora, Sefa Bonsu
AU - Akosah-Brempong, Gabriel
AU - Abdulai, Anisa
AU - Sraku, Isaac Kwame
AU - Dhikrullahi, Shittu B.
AU - Attah, Simon K.
AU - Afrane, Yaw Asare
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Introduction: The success of mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Ghana depends, to a large extent, on the essential role community drug distributors (CDDs) play. This study aimed to investigate community’s perceptions of CDDs’ roles, impact of CDDs’ work, challenges faced by CDDs, and views on resources required to enhance CDDs’ work to sustain MDA campaigns. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study employing the use of focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members and CDDs in selected NTD endemic communities together with individual interviews with district health officers (DHOs) was conducted. We interviewed 104 people aged 18 and over, purposively selected, through eight individual interviews, and 16 focus group discussions. Results: Participants in the community FGDs noted that health education and the distribution of drugs were the main roles of CDDs. Participants also perceived that the work of CDDs had prevented the onset of NTDs, treated symptoms of NTDs, and generally reduced the incidence of infections. In the interviews with CDDs and DHOs, lack of cooperation/non-compliance by community members, demands by community members, lack of working resources and low financial motivation were mentioned as the main challenges to the work of CDDs. Moreover, the provision of logistics and financial motivation for CDDs were identified as factors that will enhance their work. Conclusions: Incorporating more attractive schemes will incentivise CDDs to improve output. Addressing the challenges highlighted is an important step for the work of CDDS to be effective in controlling NTDs in difficult-to-access communities in Ghana.
AB - Introduction: The success of mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Ghana depends, to a large extent, on the essential role community drug distributors (CDDs) play. This study aimed to investigate community’s perceptions of CDDs’ roles, impact of CDDs’ work, challenges faced by CDDs, and views on resources required to enhance CDDs’ work to sustain MDA campaigns. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study employing the use of focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members and CDDs in selected NTD endemic communities together with individual interviews with district health officers (DHOs) was conducted. We interviewed 104 people aged 18 and over, purposively selected, through eight individual interviews, and 16 focus group discussions. Results: Participants in the community FGDs noted that health education and the distribution of drugs were the main roles of CDDs. Participants also perceived that the work of CDDs had prevented the onset of NTDs, treated symptoms of NTDs, and generally reduced the incidence of infections. In the interviews with CDDs and DHOs, lack of cooperation/non-compliance by community members, demands by community members, lack of working resources and low financial motivation were mentioned as the main challenges to the work of CDDs. Moreover, the provision of logistics and financial motivation for CDDs were identified as factors that will enhance their work. Conclusions: Incorporating more attractive schemes will incentivise CDDs to improve output. Addressing the challenges highlighted is an important step for the work of CDDS to be effective in controlling NTDs in difficult-to-access communities in Ghana.
KW - Challenges
KW - Community drug distributors (CDDs)
KW - Community’s perceptions
KW - Ghana
KW - Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85164492969&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12879-023-08437-z
DO - 10.1186/s12879-023-08437-z
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85164492969
SN - 1471-2334
VL - 23
JO - BMC Infectious Diseases
JF - BMC Infectious Diseases
IS - 1
M1 - 460
ER -