Exploring the health information needs of pilgrims for the protection against infectious diseases during mass muslim gatherings (HAJJ)
Date
2017
Authors
Nasir, Dalhat Mohammed
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Abstract
The Hajj is widely recognized as the world’s largest and globally most diverse kind of mass gathering. This annual five day gathering takes place in the city of Mecca and includes between 2.5 and 3.5 million participants. This poses a great concern by the organizers as the risk for the spread of infectious disease due to overcrowding is greatly increased. These diseases are increasingly being recognized as a potential threat to both local and international public health systems. The lack of understanding of the infectious diseases that originate and disseminate during the Hajj was raised in the Jeddah declaration. Furthermore, despite the protective measures put in place, poor health practices from selective use of the measures by the participants contributes to the increased risks. Exploring the health information needs of the pilgrims attending Hajj, would help in knowing what is required to reduce poor health practices and simplify and improve compliance with protective measures against infectious diseases before, during and after Hajj, and this will help in minimising the spread of infectious diseases in the Hajj.
The aim of this study was to explore the health information needs of the pilgrims attending Hajj in order to know what was required to reduce poor health practices and simplify and improve compliance with protective measures against infectious diseases before, during and after Hajj, and this would help in minimizing the spread of infectious diseases in the Hajj.
In this study, a qualitative research design was used and focus group discussion using semi-structured questions was conducted. The members were purposely recruited and divided into four groups, two groups of males and two of females. The division of participants into focus groups was in part done in compliance with the Muslim beliefs. Data were collected using a focus group discussion with semistructured questions that was recorded using a tape recorder. These discussions were transcribed verbatim before being analyzed using thematic analysis.
The findings of the study showed that pilgrims need a holistic health educational program that addresses their experiences of illnesses and chosen format as educational pamphlets are no longer effective. The findings also revealed that collaboration, surveillance and screening of pilgrims for diseases prior to departure are useful as they help in spreading messages of health and diseases issues with simplicity and yield effective result as well as identifying those at risk of contracting infectious diseases, spreading infectious diseases and exacerbating their diseased conditions.
The study recommends the use of digital technology such as an app for phone to send health information to participants and promptly identify and manage individuals who develop illness during mass gathering events like Hajj. It also recommends the incorporation of mass gathering medicine into the curriculum of Nursing program in order to effectively train and equip nurses with better preparation measures against infectious diseases during mass gatherings like Hajj
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nursing
Johannesburg, 2017
Keywords
Infectious Diseases, Health Information Needs