Community voices: Exploring beliefs, attitudes, practices and recommendations for improving stroke prevention and stroke care in rural and urban communities in Nigeria
Qualitative exploration of beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding stroke in Nigerian communities, suggesting improved care strategies.
Key Points
The aim is to identify differences in beliefs, attitudes, and practices related to stroke among community members and health providers in Nigeria.
Conducted six focus groups with 57 community members and leaders.
Performed key informant interviews with 24 health providers from both alternative and orthodox medicine.
Used the Socio-Ecological Model for participant selection and the Health Belief Model to develop interview questions.
Participants viewed stroke as disabling yet manageable, with noted high odds of repeat strokes for survivors.
Identified risk factors included high blood pressure, stress, heredity, and lifestyle choices, with additional beliefs in witchcraft among rural participants.
Barriers to care included low literacy, financial constraints, and fear of hospitals, pushing individuals toward unorthodox treatment.