Authors: Taiwo Ibinaiye, Ayodeji Balogun, Emmanuel Salifu, Benjamin Amao, Emmanuel Musa, Daniel Emeto, Samuel Ayoola, Usman Hussaini, Chibuzo Oguoma, Abdullahi Abdulrazak, Zechariah Maleeks, Olabisi Ogunmola, Olusola Oresanya, Kunle Rotimi
Malaria is a major health issue, especially for children under five in low-resource countries, with Nigeria facing the highest burden in West Africa. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) programs have been launched in nine states in Nigeria to combat this. This study examined how well caregivers followed referral protocols during SMC, focusing on caregiver-child pairs identified with fever during the first cycle of SMC. Data was gathered from surveys conducted shortly after this cycle, and researchers used statistical models to analyze factors influencing adherence to referrals. The study found that caregiver characteristics did not significantly affect whether children were taken to the hospital for treatment, but children referred by community drug distributors (CDs) were much more likely to seek medical care compared to those not referred. The findings highlight the importance of referrals made by CDs during SMC campaigns, as they significantly increase the likelihood of caregivers seeking treatment for malaria in their children.
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Resource Topic: Malaria, Referral
Resource Type: Mixed Methods
Year: 2024
Region: Africa
Country: Nigeria
Publisher May Restrict Access: No