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Barriers to managing chronic illness among urban households in coastal Kenya
Author(s) -
Porter Thomas,
Chuma Jane,
Molyneux Catherine
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of international development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.533
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1099-1328
pISSN - 0954-1748
DOI - 10.1002/jid.1552
Subject(s) - stigma (botany) , focus group , qualitative research , psychological resilience , chronic disease , developing country , economic growth , business , medicine , psychology , sociology , psychiatry , economics , family medicine , social psychology , marketing , social science
The burden of chronic illnesses is rising throughout the world but information on barriers to managing such diseases in developing countries is scarce. Qualitative data from focus group discussions and interview transcripts from a longitudinal study involving 22 households in urban, coastal Kenya were analysed. Themes around barriers to chronic illness care were identified and a conceptual framework developed which described relationships between these themes. The main barrier to chronic illness management was the cost of care. Other barriers identified were patient knowledge and beliefs, stigma, quality and trust in providers and long care pathways. Household resilience was adversely affected by chronic illness, further reducing households' ability to cope with illness. Policy options to address the barriers identified are discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.