Malaria infection in children in tropical rainforest: assessments by women of Ugbowo Community in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To examine how mothers recognize malaria infection in children aged less than five and five years, frequency and duration of the infection in these children as well as measures used to reduce exposure of children to mosquito bites, and to discuss the possibilities of designing a strategy that involves mothers in management and control of malaria infection.Methods: The data were originated from personal interviews which involved mothers in the Ugbowo Community in Benin City, Nigeria who were selected using multi stage systemic random sampling technique. The data were analyzed qualitatively and by use of percentages, arithmetic mean and bar chart.Results: The results showed that all the interviewees believed that children got malaria infection along with fever or fever and other symptoms. Approximately 30% of interviewee recognized malaria infection through fever and cough while 1% by fever and vomiting. Approximately 72% of the interviewees claimed that their children had malaria infection every three months and 16% claimed that their children had the infection every month. Most of the interviewees reported that the length of time from recognition of malaria symptoms on their children to treatment was between one and three days. Most of the interviewees used insecticide treated bed nets to reduce their children's exposure to mosquito bites and few used mosquito repellent ointment.Conclusions: For malaria management strategy to be effective and sustainable, it is important to empower women with more knowledge on detection of malaria symptoms and they should be involved in planning and designing the strategy.

Keywords

Children; Malaria; Mothers; Perception; Prevention; Public health; Symptoms

Published in

Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
2014, volume: 7, pages: S97-S103

SLU Authors

• Ezebilo, Eugene Ejike

  • Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG3 Good health and well-being
SDG5 Gender equality

UKÄ Subject classification

Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy
Social Psychology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60212-1

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/61906