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. 2006 Dec 15:5:124.
doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-5-124.

Caregivers' perceived treatment failure in home-based management of fever among Ugandan children aged less than five years

Mugagga Malimbo  1 , Erieza Mugisha, Fred Kato, Charles Karamagi, Ambrose O Talisuna
Affiliations

Caregivers' perceived treatment failure in home-based management of fever among Ugandan children aged less than five years

Mugagga Malimbo et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

Background: Home-based management of fever (HBMF) could improve prompt access to antimalarial medicines for African children. However, the perception of treatment failure by caregivers has not been assessed.

Methods: Caregiver's perceived treatment outcome in HBMF and in alternative sources of fever treatment was assessed in a rural Ugandan setting using nine hundred and seventy eight (978) caregivers of children between two and 59 months of age, who had reported fever within two weeks prior to the study.

Results: Lower caregivers' perceived treatment failure (15% and 23%) was observed in the formal health facilities and in HBMF, compared to private clinics (38%), drug shops (55%) or among those who used herbs (56%). Under HBMF, starting treatment within 24 hours of symptoms onset and taking treatment for the recommended three days duration was associated with a lower perceived treatment failure. Conversely, vomiting, convulsions and any illness in the month prior to the fever episode was associated with a higher perceived treatment failure.

Conclusion: In this medium malaria transmission setting, caregiver's perceived treatment outcome was better in HBMF compared to alternative informal sources of treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Common symptoms for children with fever in the two weeks prior to the study, Rakai, Uganda, 2006.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Caregivers' perceived treatment failure, according to first action taken for children with fever.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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