Costs and Treatment-Seeking for Febrile Illness in Malawi
Author Information
Author(s): Ewing Victoria L, Lalloo David G, Phiri Kamija S, Roca-Feltrer Arantxa, Mangham Lindsay J, SanJoaquin Miguel A
Primary Institution: Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme
Hypothesis
How do geographic barriers affect treatment-seeking behavior and household costs for febrile illness among children in Malawi?
Conclusion
Children in hard-to-reach areas are less likely to seek health care for fever and incur higher costs than those living near health facilities.
Supporting Evidence
- Households in hard-to-reach villages were less likely to attend health facilities compared to those near hospitals.
- Mean costs for seeking treatment were higher for families in hard-to-reach areas.
- Consulting community health workers was infrequent and may reduce attendance at health facilities.
Takeaway
Kids who live far from hospitals are less likely to see a doctor when they are sick and it costs their families more money.
Methodology
Two cross-sectional household surveys were conducted in 13 villages during the wet and dry seasons, collecting data on health facility attendance and costs.
Potential Biases
Potential reporting bias from caregivers regarding illness severity and treatment-seeking behavior.
Limitations
The study may not represent all hard-to-reach villages as only those accessible to the study team were included.
Participant Demographics
Households with children under 10 years who experienced a febrile episode; varied socioeconomic status.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.004
Confidence Interval
95%CI 0.18-0.67
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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