Assessment of Home Management of Malaria by Caregivers in a Rural Community in Edo State, South-South, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria remains the leading cause of child mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. Home-based management of malaria (HMM) is promoted as a major strategy of reducing malaria mortality and severe morbidity, in line with the Millennium Development Goal 6. This study assessed the treatment of malaria at home in a rurul community in South-South Nigeria. A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among 165 mothers in Okada community, Ovia north-east, Edo state. A Systematic sampling technique was used for selecting respondents. Data was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire and analysed with SPSS version 16. The mean age of caregiver was 32 ± 1.4 years. 87(53%) of the respomlents associated fever, vomiting and body weakness with childhood malaria. One hundred and nine 109(66.1 %) of the caregivers started treatment at home using orthodox medicine, with patent medicine dealers as the common source of meclication. Chloroquine and fansidar were the commonly used anti-malaria drugs. The study shows that majority of the caregiver treated malaria at home using Chloroquine and fansidar. There is however need to improve and sustain the strategy (HMM), placing more emphasis on educating the caregivers on current drug protocols to achieve better results in controlling the prevalence and incidence of malaria especially at the community level. Emphasis should be laid on health education highlighting and encouraging the caregiver on the use of ACT for the treatment of malaria.

Key words: Assessment Malaria, Caregiver, Home, Management, South-South