Knowledge, Perception, And Experience of Participants in the Invisible Fisher’s Intervention in the Volta and Central Regions of Ghana

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Anaemia continues to remain one of the world‘s public health concerns which affects people of all life stages. It has a global prevalence of 32.9% and particularly affects the Sub-Sahara regions. In Ghana, there is an anaemia prevalence of 42% in women if the reproductive age group. Several interventions have been put in place to curb this public health concern in the country but the prevalence remains at an alarmingly high rate. A pilot study (Invisible fisher‘s intervention) was conducted recently in the Volta and Central regions of Ghana among women in the fishing Chain using mobile technology to communicate behavior change messages. This study was conducted to see how feasible this new way of intervening can reduce the prevalence of anaemia in the country. AIM: To assess participants‘ knowledge, perception, and experience of the invisible fisher‘s communication intervention. METHOD: A descriptive study design using a qualitative research approach, precisely a phenomenological study to obtain data. Both focus group discussions and an in-depth interview were conducted with selected women who participated in the invisible fishers‘ pilot project, district fisheries representative, project field officers, and volunteers using a semi-structured interview guide. The data collected were transcribed, coded and analyzed to generate themes with the help of qualitative data analysis software ‗‘Nvivo version 11.0‘‘ RESULTS: Reviews about the success of the IF Project by stakeholders interviewed were generally positive, even though some admitted a couple of challenges encounters. They held that this project was largely helpful and brought about positive outcomes. Beneficiaries were generally agreed that the IF Project had impacted their lives positively.