Qualitative analysis of health literacy

Exploring a Kenyan community’s response to childhood illness

Bibliographic Data

ID22945635
AuthorsAbigail Robbertz (0000-0002-1074-7787, Georgia State University), Abigail S Robbertz (Georgia State University), Sae-Jin Kim (Georgia State University), Sae‐Jin Kim (0000-0002-2383-9058, Georgia State University), Christine Musyimi (0000-0002-8828-2959, Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation , PO Box 48423-00100, Mawensi Gardens, Upperhill, Nairobi, Kenya), Sylvia Tuikong (Peace, Conflict Studies and Psychology, Daystar University , P.O. Box 44400-00100, Nairobi, Kenya), Jenelle R Shanley (0000-0003-2705-6840, Pacific University Oregon), Jenelle Shanley (Pacific University), Victoria Mutiso (0000-0002-8395-6707, Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation , PO Box 48423-00100, Mawensi Gardens, Upperhill, Nairobi, Kenya), Olivia L Hucks (Georgia State University), Olivia Hucks (Georgia State University), David M Ndetei (0000-0001-6891-4990, Africa Mental Health Foundation), David Ndetei (Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation , PO Box 48423-00100, Mawensi Gardens, Upperhill, Nairobi, Kenya), Lisa Armistead (0000-0001-9673-3353, Georgia State University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume38
Issue3
Publication date2023-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daac027
PMID35348685
OpenAlexW4221133507
LanguageEN
References cited17

Parents are the first-line healthcare providers for their children and, thus, need to identify and treat symptoms, including knowing whether and how to seek treatment from healthcare professionals. In addition to the tangible resources necessary to address childhood illness, parents’ health literacy skills impact their treatment decisions. The current study considered data gathered through focus groups (N = 9 groups) and key informant interviews (N = 13) to explore approaches to childhood illness and their implications for health literacy among Kenyan parents of young children (birth to age 5). Participants included parents, community health workers and community leaders (e.g. village elders) from the Kibera community in Kenya. Themes, resulting from the qualitative data analysis, were mapped onto the Research Triangle Institute’s Health Literacy Skills Framework. Participants were well able to identify health risks, often turned to family and neighbors for medical advice, and relied on a range of resources to treat and prevent illnesses in their children. This range included reliance on traditional healers and religious leaders. Balancing cultural and medical viewpoints will be important considerations for interventions focused on supporting Kenyan parents’ health literacy and skills to recognize and intervene when their children are sick.

Family medicine · Focus group · Health care · Health literacy · Kenya · Literacy · Pedagogy · Political science · Psychological intervention · Qualitative research · Sociology · Viewpoints · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Child and Adolescent Health · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology

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