Local Management of Childhood Malaria in the Manya Krobo District of Ghana
Date
2004-07
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
Malaria has been identified as the single most important infectious disease in
children, being responsible for the death of about one million children per year or
25 percent o f all childhood deaths worldwide. Most clinical cases of the disease
occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria may also contribute to the severity of other
childhood diseases and repeated infections can be a cause of chronic anaemia in
children due to their relatively weak immune system. About one million children
under five suffer from malaria in Ghana; malaria leads to 45 deaths of children
under five every day (MOH, 2003).
The health burden of malaria has far-reaching implications for child health and
survival. Apart from the morbid and socio-economic impact of the disease on
children and their carers, death of children under five resulting from malaria has
been increasing in Ghana over the years. This is reflected in the infant and under
five mortality rate for Ghana from 1999-2003 (GDHS, 2003). Adoption of new
strategies to combat malaria based on increased participation of all stakeholders
and improved case management requires in-depth appreciation of carers perception
and management of childhood malaria episode.
The main thrust of the thesis is to investigate how mothers/carers perceived and
managed childhood malaria. In furtherance o f this main objective, the study assessed mother’s perception/knowledge of the aetiology and transmission of
malaria; investigated actions taken during episodes of childhood malaria;
examined factors influencing choice of treatment outlets and ascertained practices
on malaria prevention.
The study combined both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (Focus Group
Discussion) methods in collecting necessary data. A sample size of 230 was used
in the survey. Manya Krobo District was selected for the study not only for the
endemicity of malaria in that area but also for the fact that it has a very high
disease burden including HIV/AIDS.
Results of the study show that although respondents are familiar with common
signs and symptoms of malaria in children, they generally do not consider
childhood convulsion as a manifestation of severe malaria. Regarding the
aetiology o f childhood malaria, the study found that some respondents attribute it
to mosquito bite only while others attribute it to both mosquito bite and other
natural and environmental factors such as exposure to excessive heat, playing or
walking in the sun, eating oily food, poor nutritional intake and exposure to cold
weather condition.
Concerning choice of treatment outlet, the majority prefers reporting their child’s
conditions to operators of drug retail outlets for appropriate. Accessibility and
lower cost o f drugs were some of the consideration for consulting drug retail outlets. Treatment sought is also influenced by individual characteristics such as
level of education, income, access to health care and advice from lay referrals.
It was also found that the majority of respondents believed that malaria could be
prevented by avoiding mosquito bites, avoiding oily foods and protecting oneself
from the heat o f the sun, among others. The use of Insecticide Treated Mosquito
Nets (ITMN) was found to be very low.
Malaria control effort should, therefore, take into account the multi-dimensional
human contexts that create and support varying notions o f malaria and its
prevention, treatment and control. In this context;
• Public health education on malaria should be intensified by relevant
agencies, especially, at the community level.
• Stakeholders at all levels must also be included in the malaria control
programme.
• The exemption policy for treatment of malaria in children under five must
be fully implemented to facilitate assess to health care facilities.
• Government and other stakeholders should subsidize the cost of the
ITMN.
• District Assemblies must endeavour to support the implementation of
malaria control programmes, provide necessary human and material
resources for effective waste management while ensuring the enforcement
o f sanitary regulations and by-laws.
Description
Thesis(Mphil)-University of Ghana, 2004
Keywords
Childhood Malaria, Local Management, Manya Krobo District, Ghana