Health Care Seeking Behavior among Caregivers of Sick Children Who Had Severe Malarial Anaemia

Aims: The western region in Kenya is holoendemic to malaria and experience stable P. falciparum malaria transmission. The use of health care options has a direct influence on the outcome of severe malaria. As such, the current study will assess the health care seeking behavior among caregivers of sick children who had severe malarial anaemia (SMA) in western Kenya.

Study Design: Cross section study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Jaramogi Odinga Oginga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) between September 2014 to July 2015.

Methodology: It was open to all children ≤10 years (n=271) admitted and diagnosed with SMA (hemoglobin <5.0 g/dl and any density of P. falciparum. Caregivers were interviewed on the health care options before seeking care at a heath facility, when the child started to get sick, if they took child to another health centre/dispensary/private hospital before coming to JOOTRH

Results: Majority of the caregivers interviewed, 80.07% (217) had attained Primary education. Majority of the caregivers were in the age category of 19-24 75(27.67%) years and 25-29 years 75 (27.67%). 74.90% (203) of their children were below five years and 25.09% (68) were above 5 years. 61.62% (167. Majority of the caregivers gave some remainder drugs before presenting to a heath facility 32.5% (88). A good number bought drugs at drug stores/pharmacies 27.7% (75). None visited a traditional healer. A minority used herbs 10% (27). There were no statistically significant differences between most of the pre-hospitalization measures taken s with regard to patient’s gender and age, and caretaker’s level of education. Caregivers who chose to give herbs to their sick children took longer in deciding to take their children to hospital. This was however statistically significant between those who used herbs and those who bought drugs only (median 4 days vs. 3 days, respectively, p = 0.0063). There was no significant difference in the delay of child admission at JOOTRH between caregivers who had had primary education only and those with a minimum of secondary education (p = 0.9842).

Conclusion: Self-medication is a common practice before seeking care at a heath facility. There is need for community awareness for correct and comprehensive information about drawbacks associated with self-medication practices. Since safety continues to be a major issue with the use of herbal remedies, it becomes imperative, therefore, that relevant regulatory authorities put in place to ensure that all herbal medicines are safe and of suitable quality.