Information , Education And Communication Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice about Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and Digital Health among hospital patients

ABSTRACT Aim: The Government of India launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to digitize the national healthcare system. The aim of this study was to estimate the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the ABDM and benefits of digital health among urban patients, who are likely to be early adopters of digital technologies. Methods: We interviewed 150 outpatients above 18 years of age, in a hospital in urban Bengaluru, India. Our questionnaire captured the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding ABDM and Digital Health, including open-ended questions to evaluate perceptions of the benefits and concerns regarding digital health. Results: Most of the participants belonged to the upper and upper middle socioeconomic classes. Only 8% of participants knew about the ABDM, although their knowledge and practice related to other Government digital services, like National Teleconsultation services (eSanjeevani), Arogya Setu and DigiLocker, were high. Many participants perceived digital health to be beneficial, but there were serious concerns regarding data safety, data privacy and misuse of health data by insurance companies. Conclusion: We established a baseline survey for assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practices of ABDM and digital health among urban patients. The results suggest that implementation agencies of ABDM should increase the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and devise new strategies to create awareness, disseminate correct information and address the concerns of citizens.

Community engagement in mobile and hard-to-reach populations: a community-based intervention for malaria elimination in a tri-national region of the Guiana Shield.

Several countries of the Guiana Shield are aiming at the control and elimination of malaria in areas where Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities predominate, raising questions about how to strengthen community engagement to improve the effectiveness of health programs. The Curema project focuses its intervention on the mobile and hard-to-reach ASGM population, complementing the efforts of national programs in the Guiana Shield. The Curema intervention combines targeted drug administration for suspected Plasmodium vivax asymptomatic carriers, the Malakit distribution, and health education activities. The primary goals of this manuscript are to outline a pathway to foster community participation in the Curema project aimed at eliminating malaria. Thus, it presents a vision of the challenges that the AGSM community poses in terms of community participation for an asymptomatic problem; and highlights the community-based model and the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) components as foundations for participation. In addition, it also presents culturally sensitive IEC strategies designed through iterative and collaborative consultative processes and other bottom-up outreach activities. The community engagement approach facilitates adaptability and responsiveness in a complex, evolving context increasing the effectiveness of interventions.

Understanding inequalities in the coverage of adolescent sexual and reproductive health services: a qualitative case study of the selected regions of Zambia.

Despite substantial investment in improving healthcare among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries, barriers to access and utilization of services persist, especially to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. In response to adolescents' health service needs due to their vulnerability, interventions aimed at improving access and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services have been implemented in specific regions of Zambia. To highlight progress in the access and the overall delivery of services in Zambia, in the wake of a system-level funding mechanism, this paper aims to understand the accessibility, availability, acceptability and quality (AAAQ) of health services provided to young people. In a qualitative case study, 48 discussions- 32 individual interviews with stakeholders and 16 focus group discussions, consisting of 128 male and female adolescents were conducted in six districts from Eastern, Southern and Muchinga provinces of Zambia. Interviews were audio-recorded, recordings transcribed verbatim, and transcripts were analysed using deductive thematic analysis, using the AAAQ framework and Atun's framework on integration, as a guide to reporting the findings. We found that adolescents knew of and had access to common commodities and services- male condoms, health education and HIV counselling and testing. However, availability was affected by access-related barriers such as frequent stock-outs and insufficiently trained healthcare providers. In addition, accessibility was more restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and compounded by the low acceptability of SRH service among adolescents across all contexts. This led to the use of alternatives such as herbal medicine and maintained common myths and misconceptions. The overall quality was marred by the lack of dedicated spaces for adolescent health services and the lack of information, education and communication (IEC) materials in some spaces. While it was noted that some services were available for adolescents in all the study sites, numerous barriers inhibited access to these services and had an impact on the quality-of-service provision. With the added restriction to SRH service asses for young people, due to the low acceptability of adolescent SRH service use, the overall integration of adolescent SRH interventions into routine service provision was low and can be improved by targeting contextual barriers and maintaining best practices.

Role of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) for HIV/AIDS

Today it is impossible to think of life without communication. Human history has passed through different stages of evolution, but the present era is being described as the age of communication. Though communication is as old as human history itself, what is remarkable about the present age is the revolutionary changes in the mode of communication. There is no doubt that human communication consisting of exchange of information existed from the dawn of human civilization. Since then, the method of gathering information and the mode of transmitting the same from place to place and person to person have undergone remarkable changes. Scientific and technological advancement have also made it possible to improve methods of preserving vast quantities of information for use as and when we need them. Today what is being described as the communication revolution deals primarily with Information, Communication Technology (1CT). It affects the way we deal with data and information in three important areas: (a) gathering, (b) transmission (c) storage. The aim of the present research paper is to study the role of Information, Education and Communication for HIV/AIDS.

Role of Information, Education, Communication and Training in Disaster Management

Information, Education and Communication (IEC) are of vital significance for disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation. It promotes an alert community which is sine -qua non for any successful activity. IEC are the essential constituents of any programme especially in a disaster related scenario. IEC requires the administrative machinery, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community-based Organizations (CBOs), other agencies and the community to be prompt, active and well informed to carry out the activities confidently. Hence IEC should be given top priority in any disaster management programme. Creation of awareness is an integral part of the process of social development, communication has the power to liberate the minds and potential of people. Critical awareness is needed in every field linked to human development. The generation of an alert public will hinge on effective communication of information and ideas that relate to people’s needs, aspirations and capacities. In this sense, getting the: development process initiated is largely the task of information, education and communication. This research paper attempt to study the nature and significance of IEC and training, and the concept of community awareness. The important components and strategies of IEC and training shall also be focused.

Reasons and extent of delay in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis after the appearance of symptoms.

Delay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is a significant problem at both individual and community levels. Delayed diagnosis of TB contributes to more severe disease manifestations, higher risk of death, and higher disease transmission in the community. We conducted this study to assess the extent and associated reasons for delay in diagnosis of pulmonary TB. This study was conducted in the Department of TB and Respiratory Diseases, J. N. Medical College, Aligarh, from June 2020 to May 2022. A total of 2053 new pulmonary TB patients, who first consulted any private healthcare provider (HCP) for treatment, were enrolled in the study. The required information was collected by interview technique using a predesigned questionnaire. A total of 2053 patients were enrolled in the study. There was a significant delay of more than 2 weeks in the diagnosis of pulmonary TB after the onset of symptoms in 94% of patients. The extent of delay ranged from 8 days to 240 days with a mean of 36.33 days. The delay in visiting the HCPs by the patient was not significant. Only 5.85% of patients had a significant delay of more than 2 weeks in seeking any health care after the appearance of symptoms. A delay by HCP contributed to a greater portion of the total delay, with a mean of 31.77 days. The main reason for the delay by HCPs was not investigating TB. The hospital delay was not significant. The mean hospital delay was 5.82 days. The delay in the diagnosis of TB in India is very high. A delay by HCPs contributes to a greater portion of the total delay. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities will play an important role in reducing the delay. All HCPs should be actively involved in subjecting the suspects to TB diagnosis at the earliest possible as per National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) guidelines.

Evaluation of the Coverage of Iron Requirements in Young Children Aged 6 to 59 Months from Basic Foods in Two Localities in North Togo: Awandjelo and Lama (Kara)

Iron deficiency is one of the most widespread nutritional disorders in the world. It affects almost 60% of the population in developing countries, i.e. 3.5 billion people. Women of childbearing age and young children are the most vulnerable. Iron deficiency occurs when the intake and absorption of iron cannot compensate physiological needs, which are particularly high in young children because of their growth. Due to its impact on children's health, iron deficiency remains a major public health problem in Togo, with 70% of children aged between 6 and 59 months suffering from anaemia. In the face of this problem, the present study aims to establish the adequacy between dietary iron intake and physiological needs in order to contribute to strategies for handling this nutritional deficiency. To achieve this, 479 children (243 urban and 236 rural) aged 6-59 months from 447 households were the subject of this study. Food consumption was assessed using the 24-hour recall method; the nutritional value of the rations was assessed using the food composition table available in Africa. The results showed that 62% of the children studied had dietary iron intakes below the recommended levels and only 38% were able to cover their iron requirements. In fact, the mother's level of school education and the mother's economic activity were found to be strongly correlated with iron status in children. In the light of these data, it would seem wise to consider better nutritional intervention strategies, including nutritional education for women of childbearing age. The introduction of nutritional counselling through Information, Education and Communication (IEC), mobilisation and social marketing campaigns should therefore be promoted.

Online training needs assessment (TNA) among Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAOs) in the Philippines

Introduction: A training needs assessment (TNA) was conducted by the Department of Science and Technology, Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) to design appropriate and relevant trainings for Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAOs). In the Philippines, MNAO is a nutrition officer who serves at the municipal level and is tasked to ensure the localisation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) in Local Government Units (LGU) to ensure proper implementation of activities on Public Health Nutrition (PHN). Methods: A total of 162 MNAOs in the country answered the online TNA survey conducted from April to May 2023. Results: Based on the results of the TNA survey, there was a need for DOST-FNRI to design and conduct trainings related to the top three core competencies identified by MNAOs: Creating policies and standards related to food and nutrition; advocating legislation, regulation, and nutrition policies; and designing appropriate nutrition information education and communication (IEC) materials. Conclusion: Based on the study results, it is recommended that LGUs allocate funds for capacity building of the public health workforce to create a skilled workforce in the community that will coordinate the formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of nutrition plans at the municipal level. For future consideration, curriculum design for professional development in public health nutrition should include core competencies on food and nutrition policy programme, nutrition programme management, and IEC development.

Effect of Health Education on the Knowledge of Pregnant Women on Iron and Folic Acid Supplements: A Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial

Iron deficiency poses a significant public health challenge during pregnancy. However, optimal uptake of antenatal micronutrients is hampered by lack of knowledge. We investigated the effect of health education on knowledge of women regarding antenatal Iron and Folic Acid Supplements (IFAS). In a 9-month trial, antenatal care clinics received a maternal IFAS awareness package, which included education for both health workers and pregnant women and health Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials. The study found that IFAS knowledge improved from 44.8% to 81.1%, a 36-percentage point increase. To enhance IFAS knowledge, hence uptake, the study recommends targeted health education emphasizing IFAS benefits, management of IFAS side effects, along with providing standardized information materials to the clinics.

Prevalence, Reach of Anti-smokeless Tobacco Messages and Quit Attempts by Product Type: A Secondary Data Analysis from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS - 2016-17).

India has the highest number of smokeless tobacco (SLT) products available in different forms, consumed in various ways. The current study aimed to understand the pattern of daily SLT use according to different product categories and whether Quit intention and Quit attempts vary by SLT type and exposure to media messages. Data from Global Adult Tobacco Surveys (GATS), 2016-17, was used to find access to media messages and warning labels by SLT type. Quit attempt and Quit intention were calculated for each of the SLT types. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify whether access to media messages, warning labels influenced, quit intention and attempts vary by SLT type. Khaini or tobacco lime mixture was the most common SLT type consumed by 37% of SLT users, whereas SLT users consuming more than one product accounted for 23% of SLT users. Exposure to media messages and warning labels was high among Gutkha/ paan masala tobacco users (74.7% and 81.2%) and low among oral tobacco (Mishri, Gul, Gudakhu) users (56.1% and 60.0%). Quit attempts and quit intention were high among Gutkha/ paan masala tobacco users (38.3% and 22.3%) and low among oral tobacco (Mishri, Gul, Gudakhu) users (25.3% and 13.6%). Users of Oral tobacco and khaini or tobacco-lime mixture were significantly less likely to attempt quitting (AOR 0.806(95%CI: 0.676-0.962), 0.839(95%CI: 0.736-0.956), and have quit intention (AOR 0.681(95%CI: 0.702-0.976), 0.733(95%CI: 0.627-0.857) compared to Gutkha/ paan masala with tobacco users. The reach of media messages and warning labels varies by SLT type. Quit intention and attempts vary by SLT type and access to media messages and warning labels. There is a need to re-strategise the tobacco control Information, Education and Communication (IEC) to reach out with effective messaging to the most unreached.

Harmony in Hydroinformatics: Integrating AI and IEC for sustainable groundwater conservation in Solapur

This research investigates the synergistic potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and Information Education and Communication (IEC) in the context of groundwater conservation for Solapur, a region participating in the Atal Bhujal Yojana. The primary objective is to assess the effectiveness of integrating AI technologies with community-centric education strategies to enhance water management practices. The methodology involves a comprehensive review of the Atal Bhujal Yojana, exploration of AI applications in global water management, and the formulation of strategies for AI-IEC integration. Key findings highlight the pivotal role of community engagement, the diverse applications of AI in water management, and the significance of IEC in shaping sustainable behaviors. Challenges and solutions, case studies, and future prospects are examined to provide a comprehensive overview. The implications of this research extend to the development of resilient water ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts and forward-thinking solutions. This interdisciplinary approach positions Solapur as a model for effective groundwater conservation, leveraging technological advancements and community participation for a water-secure future.

Compliance of Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics with National and International Standards: Quantitative findings from the i-Saathiya study

ObjectiveIndian adolescents experience several health challenges requiring acceptable, equitable, appropriate and effective healthcare services. Our objective was to assess the compliance of Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs) in two of...

Experience in implementing adolescent friendly health services in rural districts of Bangladesh.

The government of Bangladesh has initiated Adolescent Friendly Health Services (AFHS) at health facilities to improve access of adolescents to quality health care. This study aimed to document the AFHS program experiences and interventions implemented in four districts of Bangladesh. The study adopted review of literature, relevant project documents, research reports and analysis of secondary data on AFHS. The secondary data was extracted from the government District Health Information System (DHIS-2) and the HMIS (Health Management Information System) of Family planning department of the four study districts in Bangladesh from 2017 to 2019. Introduction of the AFHS program in Government health facilities had a positive impact on raising awareness among the community. It increased the proportion of adolescents receiving health services (from 6% in the pre-intervention period to 86% in the post-intervention period). The involvement of school authorities in disseminating AFHS program activities resulted in a 68.51% rise in adolescent referrals from schools. Publicity of the program and privacy of the service recipients are considered as enabling factors for the acceptance of AFHS. However, training of the service providers on comprehensive adolescent healthcare packages and expanding logistics support to the health facilities are needed for improvement of the overall service. The government of Bangladesh is committed to implementing adolescent friendly services, evident by adoption of national level strategy and guidelines through government health system, using existing resources with an additional financial support from development partners. The IEC (Information, Education and Communication) materials on AFHS, developed by different organizations were used for awareness program on AFHS. The healthcare providers were oriented/trained on AFHS, mental health, nutrition and counseling skills. Multi-sectoral collaboration at all levels: national to local level (schools, communities, adolescents club) were adopted for sustainability of this initiative.

COVID-19 Pandemic Challenges of Migrants and Vulnerable Population: Learnings for Future Epidemic Preparedness

Abstract Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown, the migrant workers faced prejudice, fear and social exclusion, amongst other difficulties. Materials and Methods: Stratified random sampling was utilised to recruit 433 participants from an outpatient department screening clinic. Fear and knowledge of COVID-19 were measured with the Likert scale scores. The data were analysed using the Chi-square tests and logistic regression. P < 0.05 consirdered statistically significant. Results: Only 12.2% of participants possessed effective COVID-19 prevention knowledge. Working Professionals possessed superior knowledge to unskilled workers. Low knowledge scores and manual labour were associated with fear of COVID-19. For fear, the odds ratio (OR) was 5.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) (2.35–11.51) and the adjusted OR (aOR) was 6. 8, 95% CI (2.7–17.2), P < 0.00. Discussion: Low levels of COVID-19 preventive knowledge indicate that the government’s Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign was ineffective. This could be because the campaign did not reach enough individuals, or because the information was ambiguous. As a consequence, COVID-19 prevention myths and false information circulated, making it challenging for people to protect themselves. Conclusion: The targeted and efficient IEC campaigns are required to tackle infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics. Public health specialists as well as clinicians should be trained in these efforts.

Effectiveness of Eupatorium perfoliatum 30C in Prevention of Dengue Fever and Acute Febrile Illness during 2017 Dengue Outbreak in Urban Slums of Delhi: A Prospective, Open-Label, Community-Based, Parallel Cohort Study

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of Eupatorium perfoliatum (EP) 30C on the incidence of dengue fever and acute febrile illness (AFI) during the 2017 dengue outbreak. Methods: We conducted a prospective, open-label, community-based parallel cohort study involving apparently healthy individuals residing in 06 urban slums (JJ colony) of Delhi. The participants were enrolled in two cohorts – the medicine cohort (MC) and the control cohort (CC). Participants in MC were given weekly one dose of EP 30C for 10 weeks along with Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material regarding dengue. Participants in the CC were provided with the IEC material only. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of dengue fever as per case definitions notified in the national guidelines for clinical management of dengue fever by the Government of India during the 10 weeks follow-up period. The secondary outcome measures were the incidence of AFI and the hospitalization of confirmed dengue cases. Results: The analysis included 40,769 participants residing in 06 slum clusters of Delhi out of which 28,321 participants were in MC and 12,448 participants were in CC. The incidence of laboratory-confirmed dengue in the MC was 2.57 per 10,000 person-weeks (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.02–3.22) in comparison with 7.55 per 10,000 person-weeks (95% CI, 6.12–9.21) in the CC. The incidence of AFI in the MC was 19.66 per 10,000 person-weeks (95% CI, 18.07–21.36) in comparison with 40.96 per 10,000 person-weeks (95% CI, 37.48–44.67) in the CC. The overall protective effect of EP against laboratory-confirmed dengue was 65.77% (95% CI, 53.37–74.87; p = 0.0001) and against AFI was 52.58% (95% CI, 46.37–58.07; p = 0.0001). Hospitalization reported in the MC was nil as against 4.35% in the CC. No dengue-related case fatalities were reported from either cohort. None of the participants from the MC reported any adverse events owing to the prophylactic intervention. Conclusion: The study concludes that EP 30C was able to prevent dengue significantly. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm or refute our findings.

Knowledge regarding of Iron Deficiency Anemia among Adolescent Girls of Chitwan

Growth spurts and menarche in adolescent Girls increase iron requirements. Iron deficiency anemia, one of the common nutritional deficiency condition of adolescent girls, is related to poor dietary intake and lack of iron supplementation puts them into the high risk group. The objective of this study is to find out the “Knowledge regarding Iron Deficiency Anemia among Adolescent girls. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used for the study. Among the 5 government school of this Municipality, three were selected by simple random method and among those schools probability proportional sampling was used for the selection of the adolescent girls of the schools. Data were collected from 156 adolescent school girls through self-administered structured questionnaire developed by researcher and analysis was done using SPSS version 20. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used for the analysis. This study revealed that more than half (53.2%) of the adolescents girls had low knowledge regarding iron deficiency anemia and remaining had just moderate knowledge. There was significant association between age (p=0.03), education (p= 0.001) and father’s occupation (p=0.004) with level of knowledge on iron deficiency anemia. The study concludes that adolescent girls have low knowledge regarding iron deficiency anemia, so school administration need to plan and organize anemia preventive campaign and provide information, education and communication (IEC) materials and screening services related to anemia.

Augmenting mental health literacy of troops in a large military station: A novel approach.

Mental health literacy (MHL) helps in acknowledging the symptoms at an early stage, thus promoting prompt management of negative stress behaviors. Despite the central thrust towards augmentation of MHL of troops, there is a paucity of available literature on the subject matter, especially in the Indian context. Current research explores the efficacy of a standardized Information Education and Communication (IEC) module for the promotion of MHL among troops. 1200 soldiers posted in a large military station underwent a psycho-educational module about stress and related mental health conditions in an open-label experimental study. Data was collected using a simple demographic tool and a specially constructed Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) mental health awareness questionnaire. The same sample was studied before the IEC activity, immediately after the IEC activity, and again after six months. Community-based psycho-educational module helped in improvement in MHL and the gains were stable at six months. Well-standardized and structured module was found to be an effective strategy for improving MHL. The authors consider this study as seminal for bringing objectivity to mental health promotional programs in the Armed Forces.

Perception of beneficiaries on motivating factors and challenges of COVID-19 vaccination: An institute-based study.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by a newly discovered SARS-CoV-2, led to COVID-19 pandemic across the world. Vaccination played an important role in reduction in morbidity and mortality concerning the current pandemic, but there was a lack of awareness and motivation to get vaccinated during the pandemic. This study was aimed at assessing the motivating factors and finding out the challenges perceived among the beneficiaries receiving the vaccine at the COVID-19 immunization center of Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital (BSMCH). This institution-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2021 to October 2021 at the COVID-19 Vaccination Centre of Bankura Sammilani Medical College, West Bengal, among 158 beneficiaries. The study population was selected through a systematic random sampling method, and data were collected by interview with a predesigned, pretested structured questionnaire. To identify the predictor (s), variables that were found statistically significant in binary logistic regression analysis were considered for multiple logistic regression. Motivation for vaccination was significantly (P < 0.05) higher among participants who were educated up to the secondary level. Challenges perceived were significantly (P < 0.05) higher among participants aged less than 60 years and the participants who were coming from a distance of more than or equal to three kilometers. Awareness generation program, frequent Information, education and communication (IEC) activities, etc., may alleviate these challenges and can improve vaccination coverage in the future.

Empowering Health care Systems and Communities for Snakebite Envenoming Control in India.

Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a global health challenge, predominantly affecting economically disadvantaged regions. India contributes significantly to global snakebite mortality. Since 2013, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has spearheaded efforts to combat SBE. A multi-sectoral engagement in the snakebite research projects and inputs from communities, traditional healers, and the health system have led to the creation of an Information Education and Communication (IEC) material suite, including management flowchart, information booklets, posters, and brochures, all available in local languages. These resources were broadly disseminated in high-burden regions in Maharashtra and Odisha, resulting in an approximately 10% increase in case reporting within a year. This holistic approach, engaging diverse stakeholders and addressing multiple facets of SBE, offers promise for alleviating the snakebite burden, not only in India but also in other low- and middle-income countries across South Asia, Africa, and South America, holding potential for broader positive global impact.

Follow up of a gestational trophoblastic disease management: Need for information education and communication (IEC) module

Follow up of a gestational trophoblastic disease management: Need for information education and communication (IEC) module