Table 2 knowledge of health professionals on podoconiosis prevention and control in Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2019. (N = 320)
Variables | Categories | Frequency (n) | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
Podoconiosis is infectious disease | Yes | 70 | 21.9 |
No | 250 | 78.1 | |
Cause of podoconiosis | Hereditary disease | 57 | 17.8 |
Parasitic disease | 71 | 22.1 | |
Curse/evil eye | 38 | 11.9 | |
Soil particle | 154 | 48.1 | |
Risk factor for podoconiosis (multiple options) | Not wearing shoes | 176 | 55 |
Improper foot hygiene | 188 | 58.8 | |
Not using bed net | 144 | 45 | |
Signs and symptoms (multiple options) | Lower leg swelling | 314 | 98.1 |
Upper arm swelling | 193 | 60.3 | |
Scrotal swelling | 40 | 12.5 | |
Breast swelling | 71 | 22.2 | |
Prevention measures of podoconiosis (multiple options) | Avoiding stepping on dead animals | 10 | 3.1 |
Proper and regular shoe wearing | 193 | 60.3 | |
Avoiding prolonged bare foot contact with irritant red clay soil | 200 | 62.5 | |
Daily foot washing | 268 | 83.8 | |
Covering floors | 74 | 23.1 | |
Use bed net | 81 | 25.3 | |
Management of podoconiosis patients (multiple options) | Foot hygiene | 124 | 38.8 |
Elevation and exercise | 192 | 60 | |
Bandaging | 133 | 41.6 | |
Skin care | 153 | 47.8 | |
Wound care | 168 | 52.5 | |
counseling | 198 | 61.9 | |
Knowledge status | Poor | 74 | 23.1 |
Good | 246 | 76.9 |