“Souls of the ancestor that knock us out” and other tales. A qualitative study to identify demand-side factors influencing malaria case management in Cambodia
Abstract Background Appropriate case management of suspected malaria in Cambodia is critical given anti-malarial drug resistance in the region. Improving diagnosis and the use of recommended malarial treatments is a challenge in Cambodia where self-treatment and usage of drug cocktails is widespread...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:6403bb62163345edaec446f4b853a6d0 2023-05-15T15:16:16+02:00 “Souls of the ancestor that knock us out” and other tales. A qualitative study to identify demand-side factors influencing malaria case management in Cambodia O’Connell Kathryn A Samandari Ghazaleh Phok Sochea Phou Mean Dysoley Lek Yeung Shunmay Allen Henrietta Littrell Megan 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-335 https://doaj.org/article/6403bb62163345edaec446f4b853a6d0 EN eng BMC http://www.malariajournal.com/content/11/1/335 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-335 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/6403bb62163345edaec446f4b853a6d0 Malaria Journal, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 335 (2012) Treatment-seeking behaviour Patient perceptions Patient-provider interactions Malaria diagnosis Malaria treatment Cocktail ACT Cambodia Qualitative research Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2012 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-335 2022-12-31T13:50:50Z Abstract Background Appropriate case management of suspected malaria in Cambodia is critical given anti-malarial drug resistance in the region. Improving diagnosis and the use of recommended malarial treatments is a challenge in Cambodia where self-treatment and usage of drug cocktails is widespread, a notable difference from malaria treatment seeking in other countries. This qualitative study adds to the limited evidence base on Cambodian practices, aiming to understand the demand-side factors influencing treatment-seeking behaviour, including the types of home treatments, perceptions of cocktail medicines and reasons for diagnostic testing. The findings may help guide intervention design. Methods The study used in-depth interviews (IDIs) (N = 16) and focus group discussions (FGDs) (N = 12) with Cambodian adults from malaria-endemic areas who had experienced malaria fever in the previous two weeks. Data were analysed using NVivo software. Results Findings suggest that Cambodians initially treat suspected malaria at home with home remedies and traditional medicines. When seeking treatment outside the home, respondents frequently reported receiving a cocktail of medicines from trusted providers. Cocktails are perceived as less expensive and more effective than full-course, pre-packaged medicines. Barriers to diagnostic testing include a belief in the ability to self-diagnose based on symptoms, cost and reliance on providers to recommend a test. Factors that facilitate testing include recommendation by trusted providers and a belief that anti-malarial treatment for illnesses other than malaria can be harmful. Conclusions Treatment-seeking behaviour for malaria in Cambodia is complex, driven by cultural norms, practicalities and episode-related factors. Effective malaria treatment programmes will benefit from interventions and communication materials that leverage these demand-side factors, promoting prompt visits to facilities for suspected malaria and challenging patients’ misconceptions about the effectiveness ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Malaria Journal 11 1 335 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Treatment-seeking behaviour Patient perceptions Patient-provider interactions Malaria diagnosis Malaria treatment Cocktail ACT Cambodia Qualitative research Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
spellingShingle |
Treatment-seeking behaviour Patient perceptions Patient-provider interactions Malaria diagnosis Malaria treatment Cocktail ACT Cambodia Qualitative research Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 O’Connell Kathryn A Samandari Ghazaleh Phok Sochea Phou Mean Dysoley Lek Yeung Shunmay Allen Henrietta Littrell Megan “Souls of the ancestor that knock us out” and other tales. A qualitative study to identify demand-side factors influencing malaria case management in Cambodia |
topic_facet |
Treatment-seeking behaviour Patient perceptions Patient-provider interactions Malaria diagnosis Malaria treatment Cocktail ACT Cambodia Qualitative research Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background Appropriate case management of suspected malaria in Cambodia is critical given anti-malarial drug resistance in the region. Improving diagnosis and the use of recommended malarial treatments is a challenge in Cambodia where self-treatment and usage of drug cocktails is widespread, a notable difference from malaria treatment seeking in other countries. This qualitative study adds to the limited evidence base on Cambodian practices, aiming to understand the demand-side factors influencing treatment-seeking behaviour, including the types of home treatments, perceptions of cocktail medicines and reasons for diagnostic testing. The findings may help guide intervention design. Methods The study used in-depth interviews (IDIs) (N = 16) and focus group discussions (FGDs) (N = 12) with Cambodian adults from malaria-endemic areas who had experienced malaria fever in the previous two weeks. Data were analysed using NVivo software. Results Findings suggest that Cambodians initially treat suspected malaria at home with home remedies and traditional medicines. When seeking treatment outside the home, respondents frequently reported receiving a cocktail of medicines from trusted providers. Cocktails are perceived as less expensive and more effective than full-course, pre-packaged medicines. Barriers to diagnostic testing include a belief in the ability to self-diagnose based on symptoms, cost and reliance on providers to recommend a test. Factors that facilitate testing include recommendation by trusted providers and a belief that anti-malarial treatment for illnesses other than malaria can be harmful. Conclusions Treatment-seeking behaviour for malaria in Cambodia is complex, driven by cultural norms, practicalities and episode-related factors. Effective malaria treatment programmes will benefit from interventions and communication materials that leverage these demand-side factors, promoting prompt visits to facilities for suspected malaria and challenging patients’ misconceptions about the effectiveness ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
O’Connell Kathryn A Samandari Ghazaleh Phok Sochea Phou Mean Dysoley Lek Yeung Shunmay Allen Henrietta Littrell Megan |
author_facet |
O’Connell Kathryn A Samandari Ghazaleh Phok Sochea Phou Mean Dysoley Lek Yeung Shunmay Allen Henrietta Littrell Megan |
author_sort |
O’Connell Kathryn A |
title |
“Souls of the ancestor that knock us out” and other tales. A qualitative study to identify demand-side factors influencing malaria case management in Cambodia |
title_short |
“Souls of the ancestor that knock us out” and other tales. A qualitative study to identify demand-side factors influencing malaria case management in Cambodia |
title_full |
“Souls of the ancestor that knock us out” and other tales. A qualitative study to identify demand-side factors influencing malaria case management in Cambodia |
title_fullStr |
“Souls of the ancestor that knock us out” and other tales. A qualitative study to identify demand-side factors influencing malaria case management in Cambodia |
title_full_unstemmed |
“Souls of the ancestor that knock us out” and other tales. A qualitative study to identify demand-side factors influencing malaria case management in Cambodia |
title_sort |
“souls of the ancestor that knock us out” and other tales. a qualitative study to identify demand-side factors influencing malaria case management in cambodia |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-335 https://doaj.org/article/6403bb62163345edaec446f4b853a6d0 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Malaria Journal, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 335 (2012) |
op_relation |
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/11/1/335 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-335 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/6403bb62163345edaec446f4b853a6d0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-335 |
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Malaria Journal |
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11 |
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1 |
container_start_page |
335 |
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1766346563997663232 |