title: The effect of health education interventions on child malaria treatment-seeking practices among mothers in rural refugee villages in Belize, Central America.
abstract: This paper reports on a study conducted to examine the effect of health education interventions on mothers' treatment-seeking behaviors for their children's malaria fevers. The study used a quasi-experimental post-test community-based design with an intervention and control group. A post-intervention survey was conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes and child fever and malaria treatment-seeking behaviors and access and exposure to health messages. Survey results indicated that some health education interventions, especially interpersonal communication, appeared to have a positive impact on fever and malaria beliefs and attitudes and on positive treatment-seeking behaviors. While some interventions appeared to have a positive impact on fever and malaria beliefs and attitudes and on positive treatment-seeking behaviors, limitations in the study design made assigning specific effects to the interventions difficult. However, health education interventions remain a valuable tool in addressing malaria in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Performance and Health Promotion, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA. lcropley@uno.edu
authors.forename: Lorelei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cropley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001531:Belize; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003150:Community Health Workers; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D012036:Refugees; D019035:Rural Health Services; D013664:Teaching Materials