Effect of Free ACT and ITN Provision on Caregivers’ Attitude and Practice of Home Management of Malaria in a Local Government Area of Anambra State

Abstract

In Nigeria, only about 20% of malaria episodes are treated in the health centres, while care provided at home and community ranked first in the actions taken during illness in under fives. These treatments are usually incorrect or sub-optimal, sometimes due to poor accessibility to essential anti malarial drugs. The main purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of health education with free supply of ITNs and ACTs in enhancing and improving the practice of home management of malaria among mothers in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria.

Two rural communities, Ifitedunu and Ukwulu in Dunukofia LGA were randomized into study (ACT, ITN and Health Education) and control groups (only Healthy Education). A total of 425 Caregivers with children aged 0-5 years were studied. Data was collected at baseline and 3 months after using an interviewer administered questionnaire. SPSS version 11 software package was used for data analysis with the hypotheses tested at 0.05 percent level of significance.

Caregivers who used ACTs in the study group increased markedly from 4.3% to 61.4% post-intervention and the same was true for ITN use (17.4% to 57.8%). Also window and door nets use increased from 44.1% to 66.8% at post intervention while patronage of drug stores reduced markedly from 25 (21.6%) to 6 (5.5%). No significant changes occurred in the control group. Provision of free ITNs and ACTs brought significant improvement in their usage.

Therefore, the availability of these products remains a sine-qua-non for their sustained appropriate utilization in the home management of malaria among Caregivers.

Key words: ACT, ITN, Caregiver, Practice of Home management of Malaria