title: Recognising and treatment seeking for acute bacterial meningitis in adults and children in resource-poor settings: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High mortality burden from Acute Bacterial Meningitis (ABM) in resource-poor settings has been frequently blamed on delays in treatment seeking. We explored treatment-seeking pathways from household to primary health care and referral for ABM in Malawi.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional qualitative study using narrative in-depth interviews, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults and children with proven and probable acute bacterial meningitis and/or their carers; adults from urban and peri-urban communities; and primary health care workers (HCW).
  
  
  METHODS
  Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), urban and peri-urban private and government primary health centres and communities in Blantyre District, Malawi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whilst communities associated meningitis with a stiff neck, in practice responses focused on ability to recognise severe illness. Misdiagnosis of meningitis as malaria was common. Subsequent action by families depended on the extent to which normal social life was disrupted by the illness and depended on the age and social position of the sufferer. Seizures and convulsions were considered severe symptoms but were often thought to be malaria. Presumptive malaria treatment at home often delayed formal treatment seeking. Further delays in treatment seeking were caused by economic barriers and perceptions of inefficient or inadequate primary health services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the difficulties in diagnosis of meningitis where malaria is common, any intervention for ABM at primary level must focus on recognising severe illness, and encouraging action at the household, community and primary health levels. Overcoming barriers to recognition and social constraints at community level require broad community-based strategies and may provide a route to addressing poor clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi. ndesmond@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: Nicola A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Desmond
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nyirenda
authors.forename: Queen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dube
authors.forename: MacPherson
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mallewa
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molyneux
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lalloo
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Heyderman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012017:Referral and Consultation