@article{29162,
  keywords = {Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), Buruli ulcer, Stigma (health related), Health seeking behaviour, Benin, Traditional medicine},
  author = {Werf T and Zinsou C and Stienstra Y and Johnson C and Gbovi J and Barogui Y and Mulder A and Boerma R},
  title = {Healthcare seeking behaviour for Buruli ulcer in Benin: a model to capture therapy choice of patients and healthy community members.},
  abstract = {<p>Buruli ulcer is a devastating condition emerging in West Africa. We investigated why patients often report late to the hospital. Health seeking behaviour determinants and stigma were studied by in-depth interviews in patients treated in hospital (n=107), patients treated traditionally (n=46) of whom 22 had active disease, and healthy community control subjects (n=107). We developed a model capturing internal and external factors affecting decision making. With increasing severity, extent and duration of Buruli ulcer, a shift of influencing factors on health seeking behaviour appears to occur. Factors causing delay in presenting to hospital were the use of traditional medicine before presenting at the treatment centre; costs and duration of admission; disease considered not serious enough; witchcraft perceived as the cause of disease; and fear of treatment, which patients expected to be amputation. This study confirms the importance of self-treatment and traditional healing in this area. Our study was performed before antimicrobial treatment was introduced in Benin; we suggest that this model and the results from this analysis should be used as a baseline from which to measure the influence of the introduction of antimicrobial treatment on health seeking behaviour for Buruli ulcer in Benin.</p>
},
  year = {2008},
  journal = {Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene},
  volume = {102},
  pages = {912-20},
  issn = {0035-9203},
  doi = {10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.05.026},
  language = {eng},
}