Local fever illness classifications: implications for home management of malaria strategies.
BACKGROUND
The Ugandan Ministry of Health has adopted the WHO Home Based Fever Management strategy (HBM) to improve access to antimalarial drugs for prompt (<24 h) presumptive treatment of all fevers in children under 5 years. Village volunteers will distribute pre-packed antimalarials free of charge to caretakers of febrile children 2 months to 5 years ('Homapaks').


OBJECTIVE
To explore the local understanding and treatment practices for childhood fever illnesses and discuss implications for the HBM strategy.


METHODS
Focus Group Discussions were held with child caretakers in three rural communities in Kasese district, West Uganda, and analysed for content in respect to local illness classifications and associated treatments for childhood fevers.


RESULTS
Local understanding of fever illnesses and associated treatments was complex. Some fever illness classifications were more commonly mentioned, including 'Fever of Mosquito', 'Chest Problem', 'the Disease', 'Stomach Wounds' and 'Jerks', all of which could be biomedical malaria. Although caretakers refer to all these classifications as 'fever' treatment differed; some were seen as requiring urgent professional western treatment and others were considered severe but 'non-western' and would preferentially be treated with traditional remedies.


CONCLUSIONS
The HBM strategy does not address local community understanding of 'fever' and its influence on treatment. While HBM improves drug access, Homapaks are likely to be used for only those fevers where 'western' treatment is perceived appropriate, implying continued delayed and under-treatment of potential malaria. Hence, HBM strategies also need to address local perceptions of febrile illness and adapt information and training material accordingly.
Nsungwa-Sabiiti
Jesca
J
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Makerere University, Uganda. jsabiiti@infocom.co.ug
Källander
Karin
K
Nsabagasani
Xavier
X
Namusisi
Kellen
K
Pariyo
George
G
Johansson
Annika
A
Tomson
Göran
G
Peterson
Stefan
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017028:Caregivers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005334:Fever / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012423:Rural Health; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
D000962:Antimalarials