Use of drugs, perceived drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children: implications for home management of fever
Abstract Background Community distribution of anti-malarials and antibiotics has been recommended as a strategy to reduce the under-five mortality due to febrile illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa. However, drugs distributed in these interventions have been considered weak by some caretakers and utiliz...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:9bd69adb4cfa4e26bd2e623e0d1d3563 2023-05-15T15:16:38+02:00 Use of drugs, perceived drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children: implications for home management of fever Rutebemberwa Elizeus Nsabagasani Xavier Pariyo George Tomson Goran Peterson Stefan Kallander Karin 2009-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-8-131 https://doaj.org/article/9bd69adb4cfa4e26bd2e623e0d1d3563 EN eng BMC http://www.malariajournal.com/content/8/1/131 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-131 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/9bd69adb4cfa4e26bd2e623e0d1d3563 Malaria Journal, Vol 8, Iss 1, p 131 (2009) Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2009 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-8-131 2022-12-31T02:00:28Z Abstract Background Community distribution of anti-malarials and antibiotics has been recommended as a strategy to reduce the under-five mortality due to febrile illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa. However, drugs distributed in these interventions have been considered weak by some caretakers and utilization of community medicine distributors has been low. The aim of the study was to explore caretakers' use of drugs, perceptions of drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children in order to make suggestions for community management of pneumonia and malaria. Methods The study was conducted in eastern Uganda using four focus group discussions with fathers and mothers of children under five; and eight key informant interviews with health workers in government and non-governmental organization facilities, community medicine distributors, and attendants in drug shops and private clinics. Caretakers were asked the drugs they use for treatment of fever, why they considered them efficacious, and the providers they go to and why they go there. Health providers were interviewed on their opinions of caretakers' perceptions of drugs and providers. Analysis was done using content analysis. Results Drugs that have been phased out as first-line treatment for malaria, such as chloroquine and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine, are still perceived as efficacious. Use of drugs depended on perception of the disease, cost and drug availability. There were divergent views about drug efficacy concerning drug combinations, side effects, packaging, or using drugs over time. Bitter taste and high cost signified high efficacy for anti-malarials. Government facilities were preferred for conducting diagnostic investigations and attending to serious illnesses, but often lacked drugs and did not treat people fast. Drug shops were preferred for having a variety of drugs, attending to clients promptly and offering treatment on credit. However, drug shops were considered disadvantageous since they lacked diagnostic capability and had unqualified ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Malaria Journal 8 1 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Rutebemberwa Elizeus Nsabagasani Xavier Pariyo George Tomson Goran Peterson Stefan Kallander Karin Use of drugs, perceived drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children: implications for home management of fever |
topic_facet |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background Community distribution of anti-malarials and antibiotics has been recommended as a strategy to reduce the under-five mortality due to febrile illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa. However, drugs distributed in these interventions have been considered weak by some caretakers and utilization of community medicine distributors has been low. The aim of the study was to explore caretakers' use of drugs, perceptions of drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children in order to make suggestions for community management of pneumonia and malaria. Methods The study was conducted in eastern Uganda using four focus group discussions with fathers and mothers of children under five; and eight key informant interviews with health workers in government and non-governmental organization facilities, community medicine distributors, and attendants in drug shops and private clinics. Caretakers were asked the drugs they use for treatment of fever, why they considered them efficacious, and the providers they go to and why they go there. Health providers were interviewed on their opinions of caretakers' perceptions of drugs and providers. Analysis was done using content analysis. Results Drugs that have been phased out as first-line treatment for malaria, such as chloroquine and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine, are still perceived as efficacious. Use of drugs depended on perception of the disease, cost and drug availability. There were divergent views about drug efficacy concerning drug combinations, side effects, packaging, or using drugs over time. Bitter taste and high cost signified high efficacy for anti-malarials. Government facilities were preferred for conducting diagnostic investigations and attending to serious illnesses, but often lacked drugs and did not treat people fast. Drug shops were preferred for having a variety of drugs, attending to clients promptly and offering treatment on credit. However, drug shops were considered disadvantageous since they lacked diagnostic capability and had unqualified ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Rutebemberwa Elizeus Nsabagasani Xavier Pariyo George Tomson Goran Peterson Stefan Kallander Karin |
author_facet |
Rutebemberwa Elizeus Nsabagasani Xavier Pariyo George Tomson Goran Peterson Stefan Kallander Karin |
author_sort |
Rutebemberwa Elizeus |
title |
Use of drugs, perceived drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children: implications for home management of fever |
title_short |
Use of drugs, perceived drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children: implications for home management of fever |
title_full |
Use of drugs, perceived drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children: implications for home management of fever |
title_fullStr |
Use of drugs, perceived drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children: implications for home management of fever |
title_full_unstemmed |
Use of drugs, perceived drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children: implications for home management of fever |
title_sort |
use of drugs, perceived drug efficacy and preferred providers for febrile children: implications for home management of fever |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-8-131 https://doaj.org/article/9bd69adb4cfa4e26bd2e623e0d1d3563 |
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Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Malaria Journal, Vol 8, Iss 1, p 131 (2009) |
op_relation |
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/8/1/131 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-131 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/9bd69adb4cfa4e26bd2e623e0d1d3563 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-8-131 |
container_title |
Malaria Journal |
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8 |
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1 |
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1766346940157526016 |