Onyeneho Nkechi G, Chukwu Joseph N
Department of Sociology/Anthropology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
J Health Popul Nutr. 2010 Dec;28(6):567-77. doi: 10.3329/jhpn.v28i6.6605.
Patent medicine vendors (PMVs) are a ubiquitous feature of the informal health sector in Nigeria. A previous study on healthcare-seeking behaviour of persons with chronic cough in southern Nigeria found that over 60% of respondents chose the PMV as a healthcare provider of first instance. This study sought to determine the willingness and capability of PMVs to play a role in the national tuberculosis (TB)-control effort. Study sites were selected through a multi-stage sampling process. In total, 388 PMVs, 17 principal officers of PMV associations, and 17 community leaders were purposively selected. Sets of structured questionnaire were administered to the PMVs while information from the principal officers of PMV associations and community leaders was elicited through in-depth interviews and focus-group discussions (FGDs). Quantitative data were collated using the Epi Info software (version 6.04) and analyzed using the SPSS software (version 15). Most (90%) PMVs indicated that they would be ready to cooperate with the national TB-control programme, if trained. Seventy-three percent attended persons with prolonged cough in the course of their career. However, 48% did not know the cause of TB. Only 3% ever-attended a training session on TB control. Sixty-six percent completed at least 12 years of schooling with secondary school certificate. Eighty percent of the community leaders were happy with the work of PMVs. About two-thirds (65.6%) of the PMVs were male. The PMVs are positively disposed to playing roles in TB control. Given this positive disposition and their widespread acceptance in healthcare-delivery in the communities, they have potentials for playing a role in TB control in southern Nigeria.
成药小贩是尼日利亚非正规卫生部门中普遍存在的一个特征。此前一项针对尼日利亚南部慢性咳嗽患者就医行为的研究发现，超过60%的受访者将成药小贩作为首选的医疗服务提供者。本研究旨在确定成药小贩在国家结核病控制工作中发挥作用的意愿和能力。研究地点通过多阶段抽样过程选定。总共 purposively 挑选了388名成药小贩、17名成药小贩协会主要负责人以及17名社区领袖。向成药小贩发放了一系列结构化问卷，同时通过深入访谈和焦点小组讨论从成药小贩协会主要负责人和社区领袖那里获取信息。定量数据使用Epi Info软件（6.04版）进行整理，并使用SPSS软件（15版）进行分析。大多数（90%）成药小贩表示，如果接受培训，他们愿意与国家结核病控制项目合作。73%的成药小贩在其职业生涯中接待过长期咳嗽的患者。然而，48%的人不知道结核病的病因。只有3%的人曾参加过结核病控制培训课程。66%的人完成了至少12年的学业并获得中学证书。80%的社区领袖对成药小贩的工作感到满意。约三分之二（65.6%）的成药小贩为男性。成药小贩积极倾向于在结核病控制中发挥作用。鉴于这种积极倾向以及他们在社区医疗服务中被广泛接受，他们在尼日利亚南部的结核病控制中具有发挥作用的潜力。 （注：“purposively”这个词在中文里较难找到完全对应的简洁词汇，这里保留英文供参考，可结合语境理解大致意思是“有目的地”之类含义 ）
