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Rheumatic fever in Samoa: education as prevention
Lori B Allen1, Marvin Allen, Ropeti Fa'afetai Lesa
1University of Utah, USA. allen@centralutahclinic.com
Pacific Health Dialog
|September 27, 2012
Summary
An educational program effectively increased caregiver knowledge on preventing acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Western Samoa. The study highlights the importance of accessible health information for disease prevention.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Education
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) disproportionately affect children in Western Samoa.
- Current ARF prevention relies on nurses detecting strep throat, but caregiver education remains unexplored.
- Health behavior theories provide frameworks for effective health promotion program development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the effectiveness of an educational prevention program in disseminating ARF prevention information to caregivers.
- To incorporate the interpersonal level of the ecological model (EM) and the social change model (SCM).
Main Methods:
- A matched-pairs, same subject design was employed.
- Pre- and post-surveys were used to measure program effectiveness.
- The study focused on health behavior theories and caregiver education.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in trust of healthcare workers was observed (p < .0001).
- Understanding of antibiotic treatment for strep throat significantly improved (p < .0001).
- Awareness of ARF's contagious nature and transmission routes increased significantly (p < .001 and p < .0001).
Conclusions:
- A basic, inexpensive educational program can effectively disseminate ARF prevention information.
- Targeting proximal caregivers with prevention information is a viable strategy.
- The findings support the integration of health behavior theories in public health interventions.
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