title: Malaria treatment-seeking behaviour and related factors of Wa ethnic minority in Myanmar: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Southeast Asia, data on malaria treatment-seeking behaviours and related affecting factors are rare. The population of the Wa ethnic in Myanmar has difficulty in accessing formal health care. To understand malaria treatment-seeking behaviour and household-affecting factors of the Wa people, a cross-sectional study carried out in Shan Special Region II, Myanmar.
  
  
  METHODS
  The two methods, questionnaire-based household surveys to household heads and in-depth interviews to key informants, were carried out independently. The proportion of treatment-seeking patterns was calculated. Logistic regression was used to determine affecting factors of treatment-seeking. Qualitative data were analysed by using Text Analysis Markup System.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 87.5% of the febrile population sought treatment, but only 32.0% did so within 24 hours. The proportion accessing the retail sector (79.6%) was statistically significant higher (P<0.0001) than accessing the public sector (10.6%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified family income, distances from a health facility, family decision and patient characteristics being independently associated with delayed malaria treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malaria treatment-seeking behaviour is not appropriate, and affecting factors include health service systems, social and cultural factors in Wa State of Myanmar.
authors.affiliation: Yunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Puer, 665000, China. xjw426@163.com
authors.forename: Jian-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qi-Zhang
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi-Rou
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D002052:Myanmar; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult