Obstacles to prompt and effective malaria treatment lead to low community-coverage in two rural districts of Tanzania.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Malaria is still a leading child killer in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, access to prompt and effective malaria treatment, a mainstay of any malaria control strategy, is sub-optimal in many settings. Little is known about obstacles to treatment and community-effectiveness of case-management strategies. This research quantified treatment seeking behaviour and access to treatment in a highly endemic rural Tanzanian community. The aim was to provide a better understanding of obstacles to treatment access in order to develop practical and cost-effective interventions.

Methods

We conducted community-based treatment-seeking surveys including 226 recent fever episodes in 2004 and 2005. The local Demographic Surveillance System provided additional household information. A cens

SUBMITTER: Hetzel MW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2564938 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature