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Factors associated with appropriate home management of uncomplicated malaria in children in Kassena-Nankana district of Ghana and implications for community case management of childhood illness: a cross-sectional study.
- Source :
-
BMC public health [BMC Public Health] 2015 May 02; Vol. 15, pp. 458. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 May 02. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Background: Home management of uncomplicated malaria (HMM) is now integrated into the community case management of childhood illness (CCM), an approach that requires parasitological diagnosis before treatment. The success of CCM in resource-constrained settings without access to parasitological testing significantly depends on the caregiver's ability to recognise malaria in children under five years (U5), assess its severity, and initiate early treatment with the use of effective antimalarial drugs in the appropriate regimen at home. Little is known about factors that influence effective presumptive treatment of malaria in U5 by caregivers in resource-constrained malaria endemic areas. This study examined the factors associated with appropriate HMM in U5 by caregivers in rural Kassena-Nankana district, northern Ghana.<br />Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted among 811 caregivers recruited through multistage sampling. A caregiver was reported to have practiced appropriate HMM if an antimalarial drug was administered to a febrile child in the recommended regimen (correct dose and duration for the child's age). Binary logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with appropriate HMM.<br />Results: Of the 811 caregivers, 87% recognised the symptoms of uncomplicated malaria in U5, and 49% (n = 395) used antimalarial drugs for the HMM. Fifty percent (n = 197) of caregivers who administered antimalarial drugs used the appropriate regimen. In the multivariate logistic regression, caregivers with secondary (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.83) and tertiary (OR = 3.58, 95% CI: 1.08, 11.87) education had increased odds of practicing appropriate HMM compared with those with no formal education. Those who sought treatment in the hospital for previous febrile illness in U5 had increased odds of practicing appropriate HMM (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.12, 4.60) compared with those who visited the health centres.<br />Conclusions: Half of caregivers who used antimalarial drugs practiced appropriate HMM. Educational status and utilisation of hospitals in previous illness were associated with appropriate HMM. Health education programmes that promote the use of the current first line antimalarial drugs in the appropriate regimen should be targeted at caregivers with no education in order to improve HMM in communities where parasitological diagnosis of malaria may not be feasible.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Ghana epidemiology
Health Education organization & administration
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Infant
Male
Rural Population
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult
Antimalarials therapeutic use
Caregivers
Case Management organization & administration
Home Care Services
Malaria diagnosis
Malaria drug therapy
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1471-2458
- Volume :
- 15
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMC public health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25934315
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1777-3