title: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to meningitis in northern Ghana.
abstract: Meningitis has a significant impact in the Sahel, but the mechanisms for transmission and factors determining a person's vulnerability are not well understood. Our survey examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people in a meningitis-endemic area in the Upper East region of northern Ghana to identify social, economic, and behavioral factors that may contribute to disease transmission and possible interventions that might improve health outcomes. Key results suggest potential interventions in response to the risk posed by migration, especially seasonal migration, a lack of knowledge about early symptoms causing delayed treatment, and a need for further education about the protective benefits of vaccination.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80307, USA. mhayden@ucar.edu
authors.forename: Mary H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hayden
authors.forename: Maxwell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalaba
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Awine
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Akweongo
authors.forename: Gertrude
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nyaaba
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anaseba
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pelzman
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Rajul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pandya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D038381:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup A; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires