Child acute illness presentation and referrals at primary health clinics in Malawi: a secondary analysis of ASPIRE

Iroh Tam, Pui-Ying ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3682-8892, Twabi, Hussein H, Gondwe, Mtisunge, O'Byrne, Thomasena, Lufesi, Norman and Desmond, Nicola ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2874-8569 (2024) 'Child acute illness presentation and referrals at primary health clinics in Malawi: a secondary analysis of ASPIRE'. BMJ Open, Vol 14, Issue 4, e079589.

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Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to assess the prevalence, presentation and referral patterns of children with acute illness attending primary health centres (PHCs) in a low-resource setting.

Design, setting and participants: We conducted a secondary analysis of ASPIRE. Children presenting at eight PHCs in urban Blantyre district in southern Malawi with both recorded clinician and mHealth (non-clinician) triage data were included, and patient records from different data collection points along the patient healthcare seeking pathway were consolidated and analysed.

Results: Between April 2017 and September 2018, a total of 204 924 children were triaged, of whom 155 931 had both recorded clinician and mHealth triage data. The most common presenting symptoms at PHCs were fever (0.3%), cough (0.2%) and difficulty breathing (0.2%). The most common signs associated with referral for under-5 children were trauma (26.7%) and temperature (7.4%). The proportion of emergency and priority clinician triage were highest among young infants <2 months (0.2% and 81.4%, respectively). Of the 3004 referrals (1.9%), 1644 successfully reached the referral facility (54.7%). Additionally, 372 children were sent home from PHC who subsequently self-referred to the referral facility (18.7%).

Conclusions: Fever and respiratory symptoms were the most common presenting symptoms, and trauma was the most common reason for referral. Rates of referral were low, and of successful referral were moderate. Self-referrals constituted a substantial proportion of attendance at the referral facility. Reducing gaps in care and addressing dropouts as well as self-referrals along the referral pathway could improve child health outcomes.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 320 Child Welfare. Child Health Services. WA Public Health > Health Administration and Organization > WA 546 Local Health Administration. Community Health Services WS Pediatrics > WS 20 Research (General)
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department Education
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079589
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User:	JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited:	07 May 2024 12:58
Last Modified:	07 May 2024 12:58
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/24458

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