Home Management Of Uncomplicated Childhood Malaria By Mothers And Fathers In Lagos State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Malaria is a major public health disease. About 90% of all malaria deaths globally occur in Sub- Saharan Africa where Nigeria is located. Children are particularly susceptible resulting in high mortality. Mothers stay at home to care for children with malaria, thereby increasing absenteeism resulting in economic loss at the micro and macro levels. World Health Organization (WHO) in an attempt to ensure prompt treatment of uncomplicated childhood malaria, introduced home management of malaria involving care givers. The work was designed to study home management of uncomplicated childhood malaria by 485 mothers and 324 fathers in Lagos State, Nigeria using artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) drugs and to determine compliance with the National Treatment Guidelines for malaria. Lagos State is situated in the south-west of Nigeria with 20 local government areas (LGAs). Four LGAs were randomly selected. A town was selected from each LGA. Each town was zoned into 4 (east, west, north and south). From each zone, 30 mothers and 30 fathers were randomly selected. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire which was either self-administered or interviewer-administered (non-formal education respondents). Data were analysed statistically as means, standard deviation, standard error, Chi-Square test, Pearson analysis were done as appropriate and P doctors > primary health centre >> “chemist” > others. Factors determining access to drugs included cost, availability, brand, previous efficacy and packaging, were significantly influenced by the educational status. In conclusion, mothers and fathers understood and practised HMM of uncomplicated childhood malaria in Lagos State, using ACTs in compliance with The National Treatment Guidelines for malaria, with referral in unresolved cases.