Baribefe M Bagbi,
Anthonia Obieche,
Ehijie FO Enato
,
For correspondence:- Ehijie Enato Email: enatoefo@uniben.edu
Published: 30 December 2014
Citation: Bagbi BM, Obieche A, Enato EF, Assessment of Care-seeking Behaviour for Under Five Years Old Children with Malaria and Other Childhood Illnesses in Some Communities in Edo State, Nigeria. J Sci Pract Pharm 2014; 1(1):49-53 doi: 10.47227/jsppharm.v1i1.10
© 2014 The author(s).
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Purpose: Health seeking behaviours of caregivers are vital in the management of childhood illnesses.The purpose of this study was to assess caregivers’ health seeking behaviours and treatment options for childhood illnesses in a poor resourced setting.
Methods: A cross sectional survey of 197 households was conducted in three communities in Edo State, Nigeria. Information on episodes of childhood illnesses occurring within 2 weeks recall period and the type of health care seeking behaviours exhibited by the caregivers were evaluated.
Results: The symptoms frequently used by the caregivers as indicators of childhood illnesses were unhealthy look/not playing normally (77%), high fever (70%), vomiting (53%) and loss of appetite (51%). Malaria-related illness was most reported (88%). The frequently reported first port of call for care seeking was health centers (malaria, 37%; diarrhea, 52%, and ARI, 44%), patent medicine stores (malaria, 35 %; diarrhea, 41 %; ARI, 22 %). The most frequently used antimalarial drug for childhood malaria was chloroquine (75%, 104/139), while only one respondent reported the use artesunate/amodiaquine (ACT). Oral re-hydration therapy was reportedly used in 66% of cases of diarrhea, while preventive health care was most frequently practiced for childhood diarrhea. Slightly less than 50% of children with ARI received medications, including antibiotics (amoxicilin, ampicillin/cloxacillin, co-trimoxazole, and erythromycin), aspirin, and cough syrup.
Conclusion: High care seeking behaviours for childhood illnesses was reported but there was inappropriate treatment practices. Interestingly, the respondents had reasonably good preventive practices for childhood diarrhea. Measures to address the observed anomalies including awareness campaign should be considered for these communities
