Factors of Non Use of Anti-Malaria Treatment by Women on Children Less than Five Years of Age in Angola

Type Journal Article - Advances in life sciences and health
Title Factors of Non Use of Anti-Malaria Treatment by Women on Children Less than Five Years of Age in Angola
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
Abstract
Background: About 40% of the world’s population living in poor countries is exposed to malaria.
The greatest deadly cases are in Sub-Saharan Africa where malaria accounts for 20% of the
total infant mortality. In Angola, malaria remains a major endemic disease. It accounts for
an estimated 35 % of mortality in children under the age of five, 25 % of maternal mortality,
and only 40 % of hospital admissions for children under five. Objective: This study aims at
identifying factors associated with the non use of anti-malaria treatment by mothers on children
less than five years in Angola. Data and methods: Data used come from a survey carried out
in 2006-2007 by the Consultoria de Servicos, Estudos e Pesquisas (COSEP) and Consultoria
de Gest˜ao e Administrac¸ ˜ao em S´aude (CONSAUDE). As far as methodological approach is
concerned, two methods of analysis are used: The chi2 bivariate descriptive analysis (to examine
existence of a relationship between the dependent variable) and the multivariate analysis ie
the multiple correspondence analysis (to draft a profile of children whose mothers did not use
anti-malaria care). Results: From the descriptive analysis, almost all independent variables
are significantly associated (with an interval of confidence of 5%) to non use of anti-malaria
care by mothers on children. In fact, 70.6% of children whose mothers live in the rural area did
not use health care against malaria versus 29.4% of those whose mothers live in the urban
area. In addition, 66.4% of those children live in low income households. The multivariate
analysis shows that, on the national level, the most important determinant factor for the non
use of anti-malaria care by mothers on children is the endemic nature of the region, followed
by the household standard of living, age of the mother, and mother’s level of education. Such
a classification is also observed when considering the other two levels of analysis (urban and
rural), except that within the rural area, sex of the child constitutes an important determinant
thus instituting the problem of unequal access to health care between girls and boys in rural
areas. Recommendations: From the results, it is recommended especially to stakeholders to
promote information campaigns in favour of mothers on the negative consequences of malaria
for all the children less than five years particularly for those who live in hyper and meso-endemic
regions.

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