1. Facilitators and Barriers to Health Seeking among People Who Use Drugs in the Sunyani Municipality of Ghana: An Exploratory Study.
- Author
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Cadri, Abdul, Nagumsi, Bonyo Abdul Aziz, Twi-Yeboah, Alberta, Yeboah, Linda Darko, Adomah-Afari, Augustine, Ane-Loglo, Maria Goretti, and Aboagye, Richard Gyan
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SUBSTANCE abuse treatment , *SUBSTANCE abuse & psychology , *HEALTH Belief Model , *RESEARCH , *DRUG addiction , *RESPIRATORY diseases , *SKIN diseases , *HEALTH services accessibility , *SOCIAL support , *CORRECTIONAL institutions , *RESEARCH methodology , *PSYCHOLOGY of drug abusers , *LUNG diseases , *HELP-seeking behavior , *INTERVIEWING , *CARDIOVASCULAR diseases , *HEALTH status indicators , *MEDICAL care costs , *FEAR , *QUALITATIVE research , *MALARIA , *MEDICAL care use , *ATTITUDES toward illness , *SEVERITY of illness index , *HEALTH literacy , *HEALTH behavior , *QUALITY of life , *COMMUNICATION , *HEALTH attitudes , *THEMATIC analysis , *DATA analysis software - Abstract
Drug use is one of the global public health issues, and its accompanying disorders have consequences on people's mental, physical, and environmental health. Nevertheless, the majority of people who use drugs have never been treated for drug dependence and other health conditions whilst others discontinue their treatment for drug use disorder. Using the health belief model, the study aimed at exploring facilitators and barriers to health-seeking among people who use drugs in the Sunyani Municipality of Ghana. A descriptive study design was used, employing a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 22 participants, including two key informants (male and female). The first group of participants was recruited from the ghetto (an area in the municipality where people who use drugs are usually located). The other group of participants was recruited using hospital-based records. The interview data were transcribed, coded, and analysed for the generation of themes with the aid of Nvivo version 12 pro. The results showed that people who use drugs face health challenges such as drug dependence, malaria, lungs and breathing complications, cardiovascular complications, and skin complications. People who use drugs experienced poor perceived quality of life and low health status. Health-seeking behaviours of interviewees were influenced by the perceived benefit, perceived severity, cues to action, among others. Multiple sources of healthcare were used by the people who use drugs. Whereas ease of communication, perceived severity, benefit, among others were facilitators to their health-seeking behaviours, cost, dwindling social support, lack of knowledge of the condition, and fear of arrest by law enforcement agencies also served as barriers to seeking healthcare at the orthodox health facilities. This paper suggests a holistic approach to help improve the health and health-seeking behaviours of people who use drugs. The researchers wish to indicate that an earlier version of this manuscript has been presented at the University of Ghana as a thesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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