#11404. Health system and patient-level factors serving as facilitators and barriers to rheumatic heart disease care in Sudan

September 2026publication date
Proposal available till 16-06-2025
4 total number of authors per manuscript0 $

The title of the journal is available only for the authors who have already paid for
Journal’s subject area:
Health (social science);
Health Policy;
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health;
Epidemiology;
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Abstract:
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa despite widely available preventive therapies such as prophylactic benzathine penicillin G (BPG). In this study, we sought to characterize facilitators and barriers to optimal RHD treatment with BPG. We conducted a mixed-methods study, collecting survey data from 397 patients who were enrolled in a national RHD registry between July and November 20XX. The cross-sectional surveys included information on demographics, healthcare access, and patient perspectives on treatment barriers and facilitators. These data were enhanced by focus group discussions with 20 participants, to further explore health system factors impacting RHD care. Our quantitative analysis revealed that only 32% of the study cohort reported optimal prophylaxis adherence. Younger age, reduced primary RHD healthcare facility wait time, perception of adequate health facility staffing, increased treatment costs, and high patient knowledge about RHD were significantly associated with increased odds of treatment adherence. These included patient self-efficacy and participant perception of healthcare facility quality. Strengthening local health system infrastructure, while enhancing RHD patient education, may help to improve treatment adherence in this vulnerable population.
Keywords:
Barriers and facilitators to care; Global health; Health services research; Rheumatic heart disease; Risk factors

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