Abstract
BackgroundUsing the PEN-3 cultural model, this study sought to understand mothers treatment decisions about their child febrile illness by examining positive health beliefs and practices held by mothers, examine existential (unique) practices that are indigenous to mothers and have no harmful health consequences, and explore negative beliefs and practices that limit recommended responses to febrile illness in children.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted in the paediatric section of an outpatient clinic in south-west Nigeria. A total of 123 mothers with children less than five years of age with febrile illness diagnosed as malaria by physicians were individually interviewed on their treatment-seeking practices prior to visiting the clinic and their reasons for attendance at the clinic.ResultsFor some mothers interviewed, effective treatment from the clinic for their child's febrile illness, coupled with physician's approach with malaria diagnosis and treatment practices was important in generating positive maternal treatment-seeking responses to child febrile illness. In addition, beliefs related to a child teething highlighted existential decisions with treatment-seeking for child febrile illness in this setting. Finally, the belief that febrile illness is not all that severe despite noticeable signs and symptoms was a concerning negative perception shared by some mothers in this study.ConclusionThe findings highlight the need to consider not only the responses that may serve as barriers to effective treatment, but also an acknowledgment of the positive and existential responses that are equally critical in influencing mothers' management of malaria in their children.
Highlights
A important question that malaria control programmes continue to ask is: “why do some mothers continue to delay seeking help for their child’s febrile illness, while others take their children promptly to health care centers within 24 hours after the onset of fever?” [1]
Alongside the calls for increased understanding of maternal practices that may improve the quality of malaria case management [14], there is a need to highlight positive health beliefs and practices held by mothers that are beneficial for malaria control-existential practices that have no harmful health consequences-rather than focusing only on negative perceptions or beliefs related to child malaria
In utilizing the cultural empowerment domain, this study identified mothers’ positive decisions and practices related to treatment-seeking for their child’s febrile illness, existential illness-related decisions that are important with the management of child febrile illness, and negative decisions that serve as barriers to appropriate treatment practices
Summary
A important question that malaria control programmes continue to ask is: “why do some mothers continue to delay seeking help for their child’s febrile illness, while others take their children promptly to health care centers within 24 hours after the onset of fever?” [1]. Alongside the calls for increased understanding of maternal practices that may improve the quality of malaria case management [14], there is a need to highlight positive health beliefs and practices held by mothers that are beneficial for malaria control-existential (or unique) practices that have no harmful health consequences-rather than focusing only on negative perceptions or beliefs related to child malaria. Using the PEN-3 cultural model, this study sought to understand mothers treatment decisions about their child febrile illness by examining positive health beliefs and practices held by mothers, examine existential (unique) practices that are indigenous to mothers and have no harmful health consequences, and explore negative beliefs and practices that limit recommended responses to febrile illness in children
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