Assessing Preparedness for Nutritional Emergencies in Rural and Urban Healthcare Facilities: A Hospital‐Based Cross‐Sectional Study
ABSTRACT Background and Aims Effective management of nutritional emergencies requires healthcare professionals to be knowledgeable and prepared. Nutritional emergencies, characterized by chronic undernutrition and recurrent illness, lead to high stunting rates and increase the risk of rapid death in...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Health Science Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70594 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | ABSTRACT Background and Aims Effective management of nutritional emergencies requires healthcare professionals to be knowledgeable and prepared. Nutritional emergencies, characterized by chronic undernutrition and recurrent illness, lead to high stunting rates and increase the risk of rapid death in children under five by up to nine times. Nutritional emergencies, combined with limited access to healthcare and clean water, contribute to disease outbreaks like acute watery diarrhea and cholera. This study is crucial for evaluating Ghana's preparedness for nutritional emergencies and the need for an effective national response and trained emergency medical personnel. The study aimed to evaluate the preparedness for nutritional emergencies in selected rural and urban healthcare facilities in Ghana. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 11 purposefully selected nutritionists and dietitians from Bono Regional Hospital (urban) and St. Peter's Hospital (rural). Data were collected using a semistructured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS (v22) for quantitative data, while NVivo software managed qualitative data. The chi‐square test evaluated differences in preparedness levels between urban and rural facilities. The study assessed participants’ knowledge of nutritional emergencies, preparedness for response, and preparedness differences between rural and urban healthcare facilities. Results The study found that urban facilities were better prepared with common enteral feeds, as indicated by significant differences in stock levels (χ2 = 7.775, p = 0.018). Conversely, rural facilities showed a higher likelihood of having adequate ready‐to‐use therapeutic foods (RUTFs), which was unexpected and requires further investigation (χ2 = 10.431, p = 0.001). The location of a facility significantly influenced the presence of a menu plan (χ2 = 10.431, p = 0.018) for patients with nutritional emergencies, with urban facilities reporting 100% of these plans. Conclusion Allocating resources for rural healthcare facilities, enhancing training programs, and forming partnerships between healthcare facilities, local communities, and academic institutions are crucial for managing nutritional emergencies effectively. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2398-8835 |