The Ponseti method of clubfoot treatment involves two phases: initial correction, usually including tenotomy; and bracing, to maintain correction and prevent relapse. Bracing should last up to four years, but in Uganda, approximately 21% of patients drop from clinical oversight within the first two years of using the brace. Our study compared 97 adherent and 66 non-adherent cases to assess the influential factors and effects on functional outcomes. We analyzed qualitative and quantitative data from clinical records, in-person caregiver interviews, and assessments of foot correction and functionality. Children who underwent tenotomy had 74% higher odds of adherence to bracing compared to those who did not undergo tenotomy. Conversely, children from rural households whose caregivers reported longer travel times to the clinic were more likely to be non-adherent to bracing (AOR 1.60 (95% CI: 1.11–2.30)) compared to those without these factors. Adhering to bracing for a minimum of two years was associated with improved outcomes, as non-adherent patients experienced 2.6 times the odds of deformity recurrence compared to adherent patients. Respondents reported transportation/cost issues, family disruptions, and lack of understanding about the treatment method or importance of bracing. These findings highlight the need to address barriers to adherence, including reducing travel/waiting time, providing ongoing education for caregivers on bracing protocol, and additional support targeting transportation barriers and household complexities.

More from our Archive

• DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23482 2023

  From nature to therapy: Luteolin's potential as an immune system modulator in inflammatory disorders

  Md Sadique Hussain, Gaurav Gupta, Ahsas Goyal, Riya Thapa, Waleed Hassan almalki, Imran Kazmi, Sami I. Alzarea, Shivkanya Fuloria, Dhanalekshmi Unnikrishnan Meenakshi, Vikas Jakhmola, Manisha Pandey, Sachin Kumar Singh, Kamal Dua

• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20146389 2023

  Community Perceptions of HIV Stigma, Discriminatory Attitudes, and Disclosure Concerns: A Health Facility-Based Study in Selected Health Districts of South Africa

  Mathildah Mokgatle, Sphiwe Madiba

• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20156438 2023

  The Utility of Language Models in Cardiology: A Narrative Review of the Benefits and Concerns of ChatGPT-4

  Dhir Gala, Amgad N. Makaryus

• DOI: 10.3390/toxins15080480 2023

  Mycotoxins in Cereal-Based Products and Their Impacts on the Health of Humans, Livestock Animals and Pets

  Jianmei Yu, Ivana Ramos Pedroso

• DOI: 10.1029/2023gh000875 2023

  Generative AI as a Tool for Environmental Health Research Translation

  Lauren B. Anderson, Dhiraj Kanneganti, Mary Bentley Houk, Rochelle H. Holm, Ted Smith

• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20146434 2023

  Microplastic Pollution Prevention: The Need for Robust Policy Interventions to Close the Loopholes in Current Waste Management Practices

  Hiroshan Hettiarachchi, Jay N. Meegoda

• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20156474 2023

  The Eco-Generativity Scale (EGS): A New Resource to Protect the Environment and Promote Health

  Annamaria Di Fabio, Andrea Svicher

• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20156464 2023

  Self-Compassion as a Key Factor of Subjective Happiness and Psychological Well-Being among Greek Adults during COVID-19 Lockdowns

  Kyriaki Sotiropoulou, Christina Patitsa, Venetia Giannakouli, Michail Galanakis, Christiana Koundourou, Georgios Tsitsas

• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20146409 2023

  Values Clarification Exercises to Prepare Nursing Students for Artificial Intelligence Integration

  Jennie C. De Gagne

• DOI: 10.3390/toxins15070464 2023

  Foodborne Diseases Due to Underestimated Hazard of Joint Mycotoxin Exposure at Low Levels and Possible Risk Assessment

  Stoycho D. Stoev