Respiratory Protection Perceptions among Malian Health Workers: Insights from the Health Belief Model

Stella E. Hines, Joanna Gaitens, Nora M. Mueller, Diego Molina Ochoa, Eseosa Fernandes and Melissa A. McDiarmid
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Stella E. Hines: Division of Occupation and Environmental Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Joanna Gaitens: Division of Occupation and Environmental Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Nora M. Mueller: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MD 02115, USA
Diego Molina Ochoa: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Eseosa Fernandes: Department of Preventative Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Melissa A. McDiarmid: Division of Occupation and Environmental Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-9

Abstract: Reusable respiratory protective devices called elastomeric respirators have demonstrated their effectiveness and acceptability in well-resourced healthcare settings. Using standard qualitative research methods, we explored the feasibility of elastomeric respirator use in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). We conducted interviews and focus groups with a convenience sample of health workers at one clinical center in Mali. Participants were users of elastomeric and/or traditional N95 respirators, their supervisors, and program leaders. Interview transcripts of participants were analyzed using a priori constructs from the Health Belief Model (HBM) and a previous study about healthcare respirator use. In addition to HBM constructs, the team identified two additional constructs impacting uptake of respirator use (system-level factors and cultural factors). Together, these framed the perceptions of Malian health workers and highlighted both facilitators of and barriers to respirator use uptake. As needs for respiratory protection from airborne infectious hazards become more commonly recognized, elastomeric respirators may be a sustainable and economic solution for health worker protection in LMIC.

Keywords: health behavior; quality of care; community and public health; health promotion; interprofessional health care; health care work environment; immunization and infection prevention; medical technology; well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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