title: 'Why should I worry, since I have healthy feet?' A qualitative study exploring barriers to use of footwear among rural community members in northern Ethiopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the influence of personal, cultural and socioeconomic factors related to footwear use and non-use in northern Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study was conducted using focus group discussions and in-depth individual interviews. Data were collected using semistructured interview guides.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in East and West Gojjam Zones, Amhara region, northwest Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 91 individuals from 4 target groups participated in individual and group interviews: (1) non-affected community leaders including Idir (a form of social insurance) leaders, school principals, kebele (the lowest administrative unit) officials, health professionals, teachers, merchants and religious leaders; (2) affected men and women; (3) non-affected men and women not in leadership positions; and (4) school children (both male and female).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants perceived a range of health benefits from donning footwear, including protection against injury and cold. Various types of shoes are available within the community, and their use varied depending on the nature of activities and the season. Personal and socioeconomic barriers hindered the desire to consistently use footwear. Widely established barefoot traditions and beliefs that footwear is uncomfortable, heavy and may weaken the feet have made the regular use of footwear uncommon. Economic constraints were also mentioned as hindering ownership and use of footwear. Distance from places where shoes could be bought also contributed to limited access. Cultural influences promoting gender inequality resulted in women being least able to access shoes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified several individual, cultural and socioeconomic barriers that influence individuals' decisions about and use of footwear in rural northern Ethiopia. Promoting education on the health benefits of footwear, curbing podoconiosis-related misconceptions and integrating these with economic empowerment programmes, may all improve the use of footwear.
authors.affiliation: International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abebe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelemework
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Wolaita Sodo University, Sodo, Ethiopia Department of Sociology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abebayehu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tora
authors.affiliation: International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tsigie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amberbir
authors.affiliation: International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Getnet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agedew
authors.affiliation: Department of Amharic Language, Literature Folklore, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Department of Ethiopian Languages and Literature, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abiyu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asmamaw
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Brighton and Sussex Centre for Global Health Research, Brighton, UK School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Kebede
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deribe
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Brighton and Sussex Centre for Global Health Research, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2796-7468
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004604:Elephantiasis / Q000208:ethnology*; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012775:Shoes / Q000592:standards*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Footwear; Neglected tropical diseases; Personal protection; Podoconiosis; Shoe wearing