Management of noma: practice competence and knowledge among healthcare workers in a rural district of Zambia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Noma is an infectious but opportunistic disease that often results in severe facial disfigurements and mortality if untreated. As noma progresses quickly, early detection and treatment are important to prevent its development.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate primary healthcare workers' knowledge and management of noma in a rural part of Zambia.

Methods

A cross-sectional self-completed survey was conducted among 35 healthcare workers from two district hospitals and 15 rural health centres in Serenje District, Zambia. Participants' practice competences and knowledge were grouped into 'optimal', 'medium', 'suboptimal' and 'very low'.

Results

Most of the healthcare workers stated that they perform mouth examination of a child be

SUBMITTER: Ahlgren M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5533138 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature