Health Seeking Behavior after Fever Onset in a Malaria-Endemic Area of Malawi

Mujica Mota, Ruben E, Lara, Antonieta M., Kunkwenzu, Esthery and Lalloo, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7680-2200 (2009) 'Health Seeking Behavior after Fever Onset in a Malaria-Endemic Area of Malawi'. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 81, Issue 6, pp. 935-943.

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Abstract

Informal sources of care may lead to ineffective use of anti-malarial drugs. A survey conducted in Malawi estimated the frequency of use of informal and formal services, medications, and household costs. A total of 508 household interviews were conducted. Treatment with an anti-malarial was reported in 24% of young children accessing the informal sector and in 91% accessing formal services. Informal care was associated with shorter travel and waiting times, a lower proportion of carers of feverish adults missing work or studies and losing earnings, and a lower proportion of older children missing studies or work. Total out of pocket costs of fever episodes constitutes between 9% and 14% in young children and 18% in adults of their total available resources. Patients may perceive informal services to be associated with opportunity cost advantages: however, these may be associated with health risks of inadequate prescribing, particularly in young children.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WB Practice of Medicine > Therapeutics > WB 300 General works WA Public Health > WA 30 Socioeconomic factors in public health (General) W General Medicine. Health Professions > Health Services. Patients and Patient Advocacy > W 84 Health services. Delivery of health care WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 770 Therapy WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 755 Epidemiology WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 750 Malaria QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 650 Insect vectors WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries WB Practice of Medicine > Medical Climatology > WB 710 Diseases of geographic areas QX Parasitology > QX 4 General works WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 765 Prevention and control WA Public Health > Health Administration and Organization > WA 525 General works QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 510 Mosquitoes WA Public Health > WA 105 Epidemiology
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > Clinical Group
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2009.08-0361
Depositing User:	Users 43 not found.
Date Deposited:	24 Mar 2010 16:38
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2018 13:00
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/958

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