Care-seeking Behaviour for Malaria Treatment among Community Primary School Teachers (a Cross Sectional Study)

ABSTRACT

Background: Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria; especially among the vulnerable groups; the pregnant women and children under five years. Malaria control through appropriate attitudinal approach remains very vital because even with a large arsenal of treatment and preventive measures; wrong attitude to these control measures will obviate or reduce the overall impact of malaria control. Aim: To determine how malaria is identified and diagnosed among community primary school teachers; their care seeking behavior and possible factors that influence their choice of care source and also how prompt they seek care when malaria is perceived. Methods: Structured questionnaires were used to collect information from the study group. A community - based cross sectional study was carried out among 920 community primary school teachers in 60 public primary schools. Data was analysed using SPSS and differences in proportions were compared using chi-square test. P -value 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The findings indicate that malaria is correctly identified but self-diagnosis [427 (46.4)] is more common among the respondents. However; diagnosing malaria for their children was more by laboratory test. Over one half of the respondents sought care in either government or private health facilities with effectiveness of treatment outcome being the major factor that influences their choice of care source. While 521 (57.3) of the respondents sought care for their children within 24 hours of onset of malaria symptoms; 606 (66) of them sought care for themselves as soon as they noticed the malaria signs and symptoms. Conclusion: The respondents in this study exhibited positive care-seeking behaviour; although their malaria diagnosis is highly presumptive. The reliability of treatment obtained is a crucial factor in the choice of the respondents' care source