Abstract
Background Most of the malaria-related complications in children are due to delay in the treatment-seeking of caregivers. The objective of this study was to identify determinants of delay in seeking malaria treatment for under-five children in Gambella town, Ethiopia. Methods A case-control study was conducted in March 2017 among caregivers/parents consecutively included in the study. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were, respectively, used for descriptive and analytical data analyses. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% CI were, respectively, calculated to assess the strength of association and statistical significance. Result A total of 153 cases and 153 control caregivers/parents participated in the study giving a response rate of 100%. The mean age of cases and controls was 29.4 years (SD ± 6.0 years) and 29.63 years (SD ± 7.8 years), respectively. Being housewife (AOR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.47–4.22), having no history of child mortality (AOR = 3.70; 95% CI: 1.79–7.64), and chewing khat (AOR = 3.50; 95% CI: 1.57–7.68) were significantly associated with delay in seeking malaria treatment for under-five children among the caregivers. Conclusion and Recommendation. Comprehensive community-based malaria prevention and control education should be given for the caregivers in the town giving due emphasis to housewives, khat-chewers, and the caregivers with no story of child death to better promote early malaria treatment-seeking for under-five children.
Highlights
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, called malaria vector [1,2,3]. e four most common human malaria parasites are Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae, of which Plasmodium falciparum is most common across sub-Saharan Africa [1]
In Ethiopia, plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are the most dominant malaria parasites distributed all over the country and accounting for 60% and 40% of malaria cases, respectively, whereas Plasmodium malariae accounts for less than 1%, and Plasmodium ovale is rarely reported [4, 5]. e disease is characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, backache, joint pains, and vomiting
Child, Household, and Accessibility to a Health Facility. e majority of children of both cases (71.9%) and controls (76.5%) live together with both biological mothers and fathers. e majority of cases (81%) and controls (86.3%) lived at a distance of 3 km or less from the health facility. e majority of both cases (75.2%) and controls (77.8%) used public transport to arrive at the facility
Summary
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, called malaria vector [1,2,3]. e four most common human malaria parasites are Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae, of which Plasmodium falciparum is most common across sub-Saharan Africa [1]. E disease is characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, backache, joint pains, and vomiting If it is not treated early, even the uncomplicated case can progress rapidly to severe forms of the disease and eventually may result in death [1, 3]. Being housewife (AOR 2.50; 95% CI: 1.47–4.22), having no history of child mortality (AOR 3.70; 95% CI: 1.79–7.64), and chewing khat (AOR 3.50; 95% CI: 1.57–7.68) were significantly associated with delay in seeking malaria treatment for under-five children among the caregivers. Comprehensive community-based malaria prevention and control education should be given for the caregivers in the town giving due emphasis to housewives, khat-chewers, and the caregivers with no story of child death to better promote early malaria treatmentseeking for under-five children
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
