Health Literacy and Malaria Treatment Costs in Ghana
Author Information
Author(s): Ofori Boateng Millicent, Asuman Derek, Kugbey Nuworza, Amoah Padmore Adusei, Agyei-Baffour Peter, Enemark Ulrika
Primary Institution: Aarhus University
Hypothesis
How does household cost of malaria treatment for children under five vary based on different levels of health literacy?
Conclusion
Low health literacy may lead to increased costs due to possible reinfections from delayed healthcare use.
Supporting Evidence
- The mean total cost for managing malaria was US$20.29 per episode.
- Caregivers with high health literacy incurred higher costs (US$24.77) than those with low health literacy (US$17.93).
- Caregivers' health literacy profiles were created based on scores from nine dimensions.
Takeaway
Caregivers who understand health better spend more on treating malaria in their kids, while those who don't understand as well spend less.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey involving 1270 caregivers of children under five was conducted using health literacy questionnaires and sociodemographic variables.
Potential Biases
Potential recall bias in reporting costs and health literacy levels.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design limits causal inference and may be subject to recall bias.
Participant Demographics
Most respondents were female (97%), aged 25-44 years (73%), with 75% having less than 9 years of formal education.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website