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Obafemi Joseph Babalola
African Field Epidemiology Network
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3468-3527
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Background Fever in under-five children (U5) is the commonest presenting complaint in general practice and mothers’ recognition is an entry point for fever treatment including malaria. This study describes rural - urban disparity in fever prevalence, mothers’ malaria knowledge, and care seeking for fever in U5 and the associated factors.
Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 630 mother-child pairs [rural (300) and urban (330)] selected randomly using a multi-stage sampling from 63 villages in Igabi LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Trained female data collectors administered a pre-tested structured questionnaire to collect information on mother-child demographic profiles, malaria knowledge, fever episodes in birth order last child in two weeks prior to survey, and care - seeking for fever within 48 hours of onset. Care sought for fever > 48 hours of onset was defined as delayed care seeking. Malaria knowledge was categorized into good, average and poor if the final scores is ≥ 75 th , 50 th - 74 th , and < 50 th percentiles, respectively. Frequency, proportions, and odds ratio were calculated. Statistically significant was set at p-value < 0.05.
Results The median age (interquartile range) of rural mothers was 30 (IQR, 10) years compared to 27 (IQR, 6) years in urban. Of the 70.0% (441/629) U5 children with fever, 58.5% (258/441) were in rural settlements. A third of the mothers whose child had fever sought care. Mothers in rural settlement were 2.7 (CI: 1.8 – 4.2, p < 0.01) times more likely to delay care seeking for fever, and those with no knowledge of malaria transmission were 70% less likely to seek care (OR: 0.3, CI: 0.2 – 0.7). On the other hand, poor perception of malaria as a major health problem (OR: 2.1, CI: 1.4 – 3.1), and poor knowledge of cause of malaria (OR: 1.7, CI: 1.1 – 2.5) were associated with delayed seeking for fever among urban mothers.
Conclusions Disparity existed between fever prevalence in U5 children, care -seeking practices by their mothers, and factors associated with delayed care seeking for fever. Fever treatment for high impact malaria elimination needs a context specific intervention rather than ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Also, intensify efforts to educate mothers on malaria.
Keywords
Malaria, Mothers, Fever, Treatment-seeking, Under-fives, Knowledge, Nigeria
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Malaria Journal.
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 08 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 05 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 04 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 04 Aug, 2020
Version 1
Posted 19 May, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 07 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 01 Jul, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 25 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 29 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 26 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 22 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 16 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 15 May, 2020
First submitted
On 13 May, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Infectious Diseases
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A new preprint design is coming!
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See the published version of this preprint at Malaria Journal.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Obafemi Joseph Babalola
African Field Epidemiology Network
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3468-3527
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Malaria Journal.
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 08 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 05 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 04 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 04 Aug, 2020
Version 1
Posted 19 May, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 07 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 01 Jul, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 25 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 29 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 26 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 22 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 16 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 15 May, 2020
First submitted
On 13 May, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Infectious Diseases
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at Malaria Journal.
Background Fever in under-five children (U5) is the commonest presenting complaint in general practice and mothers’ recognition is an entry point for fever treatment including malaria. This study describes rural - urban disparity in fever prevalence, mothers’ malaria knowledge, and care seeking for fever in U5 and the associated factors.
Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 630 mother-child pairs [rural (300) and urban (330)] selected randomly using a multi-stage sampling from 63 villages in Igabi LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Trained female data collectors administered a pre-tested structured questionnaire to collect information on mother-child demographic profiles, malaria knowledge, fever episodes in birth order last child in two weeks prior to survey, and care - seeking for fever within 48 hours of onset. Care sought for fever > 48 hours of onset was defined as delayed care seeking. Malaria knowledge was categorized into good, average and poor if the final scores is ≥ 75 th , 50 th - 74 th , and < 50 th percentiles, respectively. Frequency, proportions, and odds ratio were calculated. Statistically significant was set at p-value < 0.05.
Results The median age (interquartile range) of rural mothers was 30 (IQR, 10) years compared to 27 (IQR, 6) years in urban. Of the 70.0% (441/629) U5 children with fever, 58.5% (258/441) were in rural settlements. A third of the mothers whose child had fever sought care. Mothers in rural settlement were 2.7 (CI: 1.8 – 4.2, p < 0.01) times more likely to delay care seeking for fever, and those with no knowledge of malaria transmission were 70% less likely to seek care (OR: 0.3, CI: 0.2 – 0.7). On the other hand, poor perception of malaria as a major health problem (OR: 2.1, CI: 1.4 – 3.1), and poor knowledge of cause of malaria (OR: 1.7, CI: 1.1 – 2.5) were associated with delayed seeking for fever among urban mothers.
Conclusions Disparity existed between fever prevalence in U5 children, care -seeking practices by their mothers, and factors associated with delayed care seeking for fever. Fever treatment for high impact malaria elimination needs a context specific intervention rather than ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Also, intensify efforts to educate mothers on malaria.
Figure 1
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