Abstract
Background: Children under the age of five years bear the brunt of malaria infection. Malaria induced anaemia (MIA) is the most prevalent presentation of malaria and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Objective: To determine the socioeconomic and cultural factors associated with mortality in under-five children presenting with malaria induced anaemia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at the Children Emergency Room of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Questionnaires which were researcher-administered were used to collect information on the childs age, gender, parents or caregivers education, occupation, recognition of symptoms of malaria and anaemia, cultural practices during childs illness and patients outcome. Results: The case fatality rate was 3.1%. Poor parental education, low social class and lack of skilled job amongst the parents were associated with high mortality. Other factors associated with mortality include high patronage of chemists and prayer houses as well as poor recognition of pallor by mothers. Conclusion/Recommendations: Improvement in socioeconomic status especially female education and empowerment is again emphasized. This and other socioeconomic boost should be targeted alongside malaria-control programmes in order to reduce mortality associated with malaria induced anaemia. Parental enlightenment on recognition of symptoms of malaria and anaemia will improve their health-seeking behaviour, promote early diagnosis and prompt institution of effective antimalarial therapy.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v14i1.17274 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.14(1) 2015 p.32-38
Highlights
Malaria remains a major public health problem worldwide
Severe malaria is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries.[2,4,5] and can present with one or more life threatening complications such as severe anaemia, cerebral malaria, hypoglycaemia and hyperparasitaemia among others
We evaluated the socio-economic and cultural factors associated with mortality in under-five children with Malaria induced anaemia (MIA) requiring blood transfusion, who were admitted into the Children’s Emergency Room of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, in southern Nigeria
Summary
Malaria remains a major public health problem worldwide. About two billion people are at risk of having malaria and 90% of such people live in the sub-Saharan Africa where malaria transmission is most intense. We evaluated the socio-economic and cultural factors associated with mortality in under-five children with MIA requiring blood transfusion, who were admitted into the Children’s Emergency Room of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, in southern Nigeria.
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