The perception and interpretation of malaria among Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Cooperation between China and Africa is deepening, and business, trade, and people-to-people exchanges are growing closer together, especially in the infrastructure construction field. At the same time, malaria has become a serious health concern for Chinese construction workers...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:d028161445a342c381c3521bdeb4ae92 2023-12-10T09:46:20+01:00 The perception and interpretation of malaria among Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative study Li Zou Haohao Ma Mohammad Shahir Sharifi Wenyu Deng Xiaoyu Kan Junfei Luo Yin Bai Yunling Ouyang Wenjuan Zhou 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04739-4 https://doaj.org/article/d028161445a342c381c3521bdeb4ae92 EN eng BMC https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04739-4 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/s12936-023-04739-4 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/d028161445a342c381c3521bdeb4ae92 Malaria Journal, Vol 22, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2023) Malaria Chinese workers Sub-Saharan Africa Qualitative study Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04739-4 2023-11-12T01:40:53Z Abstract Background Cooperation between China and Africa is deepening, and business, trade, and people-to-people exchanges are growing closer together, especially in the infrastructure construction field. At the same time, malaria has become a serious health concern for Chinese construction workers in Africa, who are at increased risk of infection and complications due to lack of immunity and exposure to high-transmission environments. One of the biggest challenges in fighting malaria is their lack of knowledge and misinterpretations about the disease, which can impact their need for interventions, adherence to treatments, and health services. This study aims to determine the perception and interpretation of malaria among Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa. Some early respondents initially made contact through two Chinese construction companies in Africa, while the rest of the participants were engaged via a snowball method by the early participants. NVivo10, a qualitative research data management software and a thematic approach, was used to analyze the data and create themes. In order to achieve the general study goals, an inductive content analysis was applied. Results The study classified participants' perceptions and interpretations of malaria into four categories: flu-like malaria, the rumors of malaria, the hard-to-explain confusion about malaria, and the special interpretation of malaria. Conclusion Malaria poses major health issues to Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa who lack immunity and live in an environment of high transmission. Their dearth of awareness and misunderstanding of malaria impacts their prevention and treatment behaviors and health outcomes. This study adopts qualitative methods to examine their perceptions and interpretations of malaria, which can serve as a source for future health management strategies. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Malaria Journal 22 1 |
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Malaria Chinese workers Sub-Saharan Africa Qualitative study Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
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Malaria Chinese workers Sub-Saharan Africa Qualitative study Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Li Zou Haohao Ma Mohammad Shahir Sharifi Wenyu Deng Xiaoyu Kan Junfei Luo Yin Bai Yunling Ouyang Wenjuan Zhou The perception and interpretation of malaria among Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative study |
topic_facet |
Malaria Chinese workers Sub-Saharan Africa Qualitative study Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background Cooperation between China and Africa is deepening, and business, trade, and people-to-people exchanges are growing closer together, especially in the infrastructure construction field. At the same time, malaria has become a serious health concern for Chinese construction workers in Africa, who are at increased risk of infection and complications due to lack of immunity and exposure to high-transmission environments. One of the biggest challenges in fighting malaria is their lack of knowledge and misinterpretations about the disease, which can impact their need for interventions, adherence to treatments, and health services. This study aims to determine the perception and interpretation of malaria among Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa. Some early respondents initially made contact through two Chinese construction companies in Africa, while the rest of the participants were engaged via a snowball method by the early participants. NVivo10, a qualitative research data management software and a thematic approach, was used to analyze the data and create themes. In order to achieve the general study goals, an inductive content analysis was applied. Results The study classified participants' perceptions and interpretations of malaria into four categories: flu-like malaria, the rumors of malaria, the hard-to-explain confusion about malaria, and the special interpretation of malaria. Conclusion Malaria poses major health issues to Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa who lack immunity and live in an environment of high transmission. Their dearth of awareness and misunderstanding of malaria impacts their prevention and treatment behaviors and health outcomes. This study adopts qualitative methods to examine their perceptions and interpretations of malaria, which can serve as a source for future health management strategies. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Li Zou Haohao Ma Mohammad Shahir Sharifi Wenyu Deng Xiaoyu Kan Junfei Luo Yin Bai Yunling Ouyang Wenjuan Zhou |
author_facet |
Li Zou Haohao Ma Mohammad Shahir Sharifi Wenyu Deng Xiaoyu Kan Junfei Luo Yin Bai Yunling Ouyang Wenjuan Zhou |
author_sort |
Li Zou |
title |
The perception and interpretation of malaria among Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative study |
title_short |
The perception and interpretation of malaria among Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative study |
title_full |
The perception and interpretation of malaria among Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative study |
title_fullStr |
The perception and interpretation of malaria among Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative study |
title_full_unstemmed |
The perception and interpretation of malaria among Chinese construction workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a qualitative study |
title_sort |
perception and interpretation of malaria among chinese construction workers in sub-saharan africa: a qualitative study |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04739-4 https://doaj.org/article/d028161445a342c381c3521bdeb4ae92 |
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Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Malaria Journal, Vol 22, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04739-4 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/s12936-023-04739-4 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/d028161445a342c381c3521bdeb4ae92 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04739-4 |
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Malaria Journal |
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22 |
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1 |
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1784889700075438080 |