Improving access to lymphatic filariasis MMDP services through an enhanced evidence-based, cascaded training model for health worker capacity strengthening in Ghana: an evaluation study

• Published in: Frontiers in Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Collins Stephen Ahorlu, Solomon Abotiba Atinbire, Kojo Mensah Sedzro, Bright Alomatu, Dziedzom K. de Souza, Kofi Asamenyi-Mensah, Joseph Opare, Paul Saunderson, Stefanie Weiland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023
• Subjects: cascaded training; lymphatic filariasis; morbidity management; disability prevention; MMDP; capacity-strengthening; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3389/fitd.2023.1282218; https://doaj.org/article/bb8dc0f795544799bf283cc62264cc62

IntroductionGhana has made significant progress in reducing the transmission rate of lymphatic filariasis. However, very little progress has been made in the provision of morbidity management and disability prevention (MMDP) services, which is one of the key requirements for certification of elimination as a disease of public health importance. This study was designed to compare pre-post- intervention to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a cascade training model for health worker capacity strengthening in Ghana, using the WHO recommended minimum intervention package to improve access to MMDP services.MethodsThis study used a quasi-experimental design to assess the impact of evidence-based training of patients with lymphatic filariasis (LF) in the Upper West region of Ghana. All lymphedema patients who were available at the time of data collection participated in the study before and after the training.ResultsThe mean age of respondents was 54.67 years (SD ± 16.89 years) at baseline and 54.70 years (SD ± 15.80 years) at evaluation. The majority (i.e., 76.30% at baseline and 80.50% at evaluation) of the respondents were female. Most of the respondents had not completed primary school (83.82% at baseline and 85.40% at evaluation). We found an improvement in the quality of life among LF patients, that is, the proportion of respondents who reported having a high quality of life increased from 2.9% at baseline to 20.12% at evaluation (p < 0.001). The lymphedema management practice of “hygiene/washing and drying of affected limb” was reported by 73.17% of respondents at evaluation compared with only 32.95% of respondents at baseline (p < 0.001). The acute attack management technique of “cooling the affected limb in cool water/cold compress” was reported by 70.15% of respondents at evaluation compared with 23.70% of respondents at baseline (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe research confirmed that LF-related perceptions remained generally the same at baseline and evaluation among community members. The ...