Wilderness First Aid Training as a Tool for Improving Basic Medical Knowledge in South Sudan

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Medical Education

Background:

• Traumatic injuries pose significant challenges in low-resource regions like South Sudan.
• Limited access to medical resources necessitates community-based first aid training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 3-day wilderness first aid (WFA) training course in South Sudan.
• To assess improvements in first aid knowledge among community members with limited prior medical experience.

Main Methods:

• A pre-test/post-test study design was employed with 46 community members in Kit, South Sudan.
• The WFA course was delivered in English and translated into Acholi and Arabic.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation analyses.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant improvement in first aid knowledge was observed post-training (t(38)=3.94; P<.001).
• While men initially possessed more health knowledge, both men and women achieved equal knowledge levels by the course's end (t(37)=1.56; P=.88).

Conclusions:

• Wilderness first aid (WFA) training is effective in improving basic medical knowledge in South Sudan.
• This model can be replicated globally to enhance emergency response capabilities in underserved communities.