Data and Disease in Dhaka: Patterns and Perceptions of Illness in an Unplanned Community in Sankar
Abstract
We conducted a survey of residents in an unplanned community in Sankar, Dhaka, Bangladesh to determine perceptions of the origin and manifestation of disease with the aim to improve interventions to increase clinical care... [ view full abstract ]
We conducted a survey of residents in an unplanned community in Sankar, Dhaka, Bangladesh to determine perceptions of the origin and manifestation of disease with the aim to improve interventions to increase clinical care utilization.
We surveyed 77 individuals in their homes using random cluster sampling and an adapted Illness Perceptions Questionnaire, which we translated into Bangla. We asked respondents to evaluate their perceptions of illness outcomes and physician capabilities on a 5-point Likert Scale and to evaluate disease origins and manifestations on a binary scale. We recruited participants by going door-to-door, alternating sides of the road and speaking to the first willing individual in each housing block. We analyzed results with descriptive statistics and two-sample t-tests in Stata, then compared them with clinical diagnoses.
Three-quarters of respondents were women and half felt they were at risk of illness. Most respondents were aware of biological pathogens (89.61%) and the dangers of environmental pollution (90.92%), but 71.43% believed that supernatural forces also cause illness and 10% made unprompted statements that all illness comes from Allah. Respondents were significantly more likely to report believing that a physician could aid them in the event of an illness if they also indicated that they had control over whether they became ill (p=0.0020) or if they felt they were at risk of becoming ill (p=0.0357). There was not a statistically significant difference in the proportions of individuals indicating belief in a doctor’s capabilities and acceptance of either superstition (p=0.1095) or their biological pathogens (p=0.6054).
Knowledge of biological pathogens is common, but there is a lag in clinical utilization among Sankar residents. Spreeha might find more success in shifting focus in health promotion interventions from pathogen education to highlighting individual control over health outcomes and risk.
Keywords: Bangladesh, slum health, community health, community clinic, health promotion
Authors
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Amanda Morse
(University of Washington)
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Ishtique Zahid
(Spreeha Bangladesh Foundation)
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Ian Painter
(University of Washington)
Topic Areas
V. Healthcare Service 5.1 Accessibility of healthcare services and its optimization 5.2 He , II. Urban Health at the intersection of urban environment, social determinants and places , VI. Research and action 6.1 Collaboration; interaction of researchers; stakeholders 6.2 S
Session
PS-3 » POSTER SESSION 3 (12:15 - Sunday, 3rd April, TBA)
Paper
ICUH_2016_Abstract.doc
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