Public Communication Campaigns on Clubfoot Symptoms and Early Treatment: A Kap Analysis of Parents in Imo State

https://doi.org/10.48185/she.v6i2.1418

Authors

  • Alexander Chima Onyebuchi Department of Mass Communication, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
  • Njideka Chikadibia Ihenacho Department of Mass Communication, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
  • chukwuemeka chidindu Njoku Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria
  • Loveth Okoye Department of Development Communication, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
  • Wisdom Chisom Ifedibar Nnamdi Azikiwe University, College of Health Sciences, Nnewi, Nigeria
  • Martin Chike Nkwocha Department of Mass Communication, Rhema University, Nigeria, Aba,
  • Emeka Williams Etumnu Imo State University, Owerri

Keywords:

clubfoot, children, public communication campaigns, early treatment

Abstract

This study examined public communication campaigns on clubfoot symptoms and early treatment of children. The health belief model served as the theoretical foundation of the study. A mixed-methods research design was employed with the aid of a survey and an in-depth interview. Descriptive analysis and explanation-building techniques were used for data analysis. Findings revealed that in Imo State, parents are aware of public communication campaigns on clubfoot symptoms and early treatment to a moderate extent and same applies to their knowledge level. Also, public communication campaigns have influenced the engagement of Imo State parents towards health care practises that could help treat children with clubfoot. It was recommended that there is a need to fully utilise all manner of channels for public campaigns by stakeholders so that the level of awareness will increase tremendously. Special care, in terms of information, needs to be given to parents by healthcare providers so that it will build their knowledge on several issues that have to do with clubfoot in children.

 

References

Adegbehingbe, O. O. Oginni, L. M. Ogundele,. O. J. Ariyibi, A. L. Abiola, P. O. & Ojo, O. D.(2010). Ponseti clubfoot management: Changing surgical trends in Nigeria .The Iowa Orthopaedic Journal, 30; 7-14.

Alavi, Y., Jumbe, V., Hartley, S., Smith, S., Lamping, D., Muhit, M., Masiye, F., & Lavy, C. (2012). Indignity, exclusion, pain and hunger: the impact of musculoskeletal impairments in the lives of children in Malawi. Disability and rehabilitation, 34(20), 1736–1746. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2012.662260

Bünzli, F. & Eppler, M.J. (2018).Strategizing for social change in nonprofit contexts: A typology of communication approaches in public communication campaigns. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1002/nml.21346

Burfat A, Mohammed S, Siddiqi O, Samad L, Mansoor AK, Amin CM. (2013).Understanding the knowledge and perceptions about clubfoot in Karachi, Pakistan: A qualitative exploration. Iowa Orthopedic Journal,33:149.

Drew, S., Lavy, C., & Gooberman-Hill, R. (2016). What factors affect patient access and engagement with clubfoot treatment in low- and middle-income countries? Meta-synthesis of existing qualitative studies using a social ecological model. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 21(5), 570–589. doi:10.1111/tmi.12684

Elliott L. (2014). Congenital talipes equinovarus ‘clubfoot’ in Zambia: a qualitative study on the influences on treatment-seeking behaviour at Beit cure hospital, Zambia. International Journal of Surgery, 12: 61–62.

Iqbal, M.S, Dubey R, Thakur, K., Katiya,r S, & Prasad, M. (2021). Assessment of awareness and barriers to clubfoot treatment in the Indian scenario. Journal of Family Medical Primary Care;10:4229-35.

López-Carrero, E.; Castillo-López, J.M.; Medina-Alcantara, M.; Domínguez-Maldonado, G.; Garcia-Paya, I.; Jiménez-Cebrián, A.M.(2023). Effectiveness of the Ponseti Method in the Treatment of Clubfoot: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental. Research and Public Health, 3(20), 2-9. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043714

Medical News Today. (2018). Everything you need to know about clubfoot Retrieved from .https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/183991 on 1/06/2023

Nutbeam D. (2019).Health education and health promotion revisited. Health Educational Journal,78(6),705-9. doi: 10.1177/0017896918770215.

Oliveira CLT, Gonçalves GM, Volpon JB. (2023). Evaluation of early treatment of idiopathic clubfoot using the Ponseti method. Acta Ortop Bras. [online], 31(2), 1-4. Available from URL: http://www.scielo.br/aob.

Omogbolagun, T. (2022)Nigeria records 9,000 clubfoot cases yearly, says US-based NGO. (2022 June, 10) Punch. https://punchng.com/nigeria-records-9000-clubfoot-cases-yearly-says-us-based ngo/#:~:text=Colloredo%2DMansfeld%20said%20Nigeria%20is,and%20cannot%20secure%20suitable%20jobs.

Pigeolet, M., Vital, A., Daoud., H.A, Mita, C., Corlew, D.S, and Alkire,B.C (2022). The impact of socio-economic factors on parental non-adherence to the Ponseti protocol for clubfoot treatment in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review. The Lancet, 48; 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101448

Pinto, R., Silva, L., Valentim, R., Kumar, V., Gusmão, C.& Oliveira, C.A.(2021). Systematic review on information technology approaches to evaluate the impact of public health campaigns: real cases and possible directions. Front Public Health.9:715403. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.715403, PMID 35087780

Rasheed, N., Zaidi, I.H., Rasheed, N., & Hussain, G. (2017).Awareness regarding clubfoot in parents. Journal of Pakistan Orthopaedic Association, 29:90–4.

Rehman A.U, Zakar R, Zakar M.Z, Hani, U, Wrona K.J, Fischer F. (2021). Role of the media in health-related awareness campaigns on perception of COVID-19: A pre-post study in the general population of Pakistan. Front Public Health, 9:779090. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.779090, PMID 34869191.

Robinson, M.N, Tansil, K.A., Elder, R.W., Soler, R.E, Labre, M.P. &Mercer, S.L, (2014).et al. Mass media health communication campaigns combined with health-related product distribution: A community guide systematic review. American Journal of Previous Medicine,47(3),360-71. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2014.05.034, PMID 25145620.

Shabtai, L, Specht S.C, & Herzenberg, J.E. (2014). Worldwide spread of the Ponseti method for clubfoot. World Journal Orthopedic, 5: 585–590.

Statista.com (2022). Number of doctors in Nigeria from 2017 to 2019, by gender https://www.statista.com/statistics/1260784/number-of-doctors-in-nigeria-by-gender/

van Bosse H.J. (2013).Treatment of the neglected and relapsed clubfoot. Clinical Podiatrics Medical Surgery, 30: 513–530.

Walter C, Sachsenmaier S, W€unschel M, Teufel M, G€otze M. (2020). Clubfoot treatment with Ponseti method-parental distress during plaster casting. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgical Research,15(1). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32680553/.

Published

2025-12-30

How to Cite

Onyebuchi , A. C., Ihenacho, . N. C., Njoku , chukwuemeka chidindu, Okoye, . L., Ifedibar, . W. C., Nkwocha , . M. C., & Etumnu, E. W. (2025). Public Communication Campaigns on Clubfoot Symptoms and Early Treatment: A Kap Analysis of Parents in Imo State. Studies in Humanities and Education, 6(2), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.48185/she.v6i2.1418

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2025): 2025 (2) In Press

Section

Articles
Copyright & Licensing

Copyright (c) 2025 Alexander Chima Onyebuchi , Njideka Chikadibia Ihenacho, chukwuemeka chidindu Njoku , Loveth Okoye, Wisdom Chisom Ifedibar, Martin Chike Nkwocha , Emeka Williams Etumnu

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Most read articles by the same author(s)