Background
Methods
Local knowledge and help-seeking practices
Results
Presumptive diagnosis
Symptom | Age (years) | Parity (childbirths) | Previous child mortality | Education | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
<25 | 26–35 | >35 | 1st | 2nd-3rd | 4th or more | Yes | No | Literate | Illiterate | ||
No in sample (%) | 54(29) | 59(32) | 72(39) | 42(23) | 63(34) | 81(44) | 36(19) | 150(81) | 139(75) | 47(25) | 186(100) |
Hot body (>38C) | 77.9 | 89.3 | 93.2 | 100 | 92.1 | 79.0 | 100 | 85.3 | 87.8 | 89.4 | 88.2 |
Diarrhoea/ enteric complaints | 38.9 | 47.5 | 46.6 | 61.9 | 81.0 | 28.4 | 80.6 | 36.0 | 49.6 | 29.8 | 44.6 |
Vomiting | 29.6 | 32.2 | 37.0 | 33.3 | 30.2 | 35.8 | 11.1 | 38.7 | 37.4 | 21.3 | 33.3 |
Loss of appetite | 31.5 | 30.5 | 27.4 | 38.1 | 28.6 | 28.4 | 58.3 | 24.0 | 28.1 | 38.3 | 30.6 |
Persistent crying | 38.9 | 32.2 | 20.5 | 47.6 | 15.9 | 30.9 | 19.4 | 32.0 | 20.9 | 55.3 | 29.6 |
Dehydration /sweating | 37.0 | 33.9 | 32.9 | 35.7 | 31.2 | 35.8 | 66.7 | 26.7 | 38.1 | 23.4 | 34.4 |
Convulsions | 9.3 | 10.2 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.9 | 5.6 | 10.7 | 8.6 | 12.8 | 9.7 |
Other 3 | 9.3 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 11.9 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 8.3 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.5 |
Classification
Help-seeking behaviour
Young women (< = 30) | Older women (>30) | Previous mortality | No history of child births | Total (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sample (N = 186) | 84 | 102 | 36 | 150 | 186 |
Behaviour*
| |||||
Self-medication (with herbs, herbal potions): | 45(53.6) | 67(65.7) | 25(69.4) | 87(58.0) | 60.2 |
Self-medication with antipyretics from market/shops | 9(10.7) | 15(14.7) | 2(5.6) | 22(14.7) | 12.9 |
Treatment with drugs from health facilities | 12(14..3) | 8(7.8) | 4(11.1) | 16(10.7) | 10.7 |
Treatment with herbs and drugs from market/shops | 14(16.7) | 16(15.7) | 5(13.9) | 25(16.7) | 16.1 |
If symptoms do not go away/get worse
| |||||
Visit the herbalist | 6(7.1) | 48(47.1) | 23(63.9) | 31(20.7) | 29.0 |
Visit the health facility/staff | 8(9.5) | 15(14.7) | 6(16.7) | 17(11.3) | 12.4 |
Wait for husband before any action | 36(42.9) | 9(8.8) | 2(5.6) | 43(28.7) | 24.2 |
Consult mother-in-law | 21(25.0) | 19(18.6) | 2(5.6) | 38(25.3) | 21.5 |
Consult a more experienced friend or neighbour | 13(15.5) | 11(10.8) | 3(8.3) | 21(14.0) | 21.9 |