title: What co-morbidities do people with malaria have and what are their patterns of health seeking in Nigeria?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed the comorbidities associated with malaria and patterns of health seeking in southeast Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was undertaken in Enugu state, Southeast Nigeria. Data were collected from 500 householders, 200 in-patient and outpatient exit surveys and data abstraction from 125 inpatient and outpatient records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 307 (64.2%) households had an episode of malaria within 1 month of the interview. The most common malaria comorbidities were upper respiratory tract infection and diarrhea. Most patients first sought treatment from patent medicine vendors. The average monthly cost of treating the comorbidities was 270 Naira (1.75 USD) and 601 Naira (3.89 USD) for outpatient department and inpatient department respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The economic burden of malaria is compounded by comorbidities and inappropriate health seeking behavior. Interventions to control malaria are required to also control common comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Administration and Management, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria, .
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Etiaba
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Onwujekwe
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Uzochukwu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uguru
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okoronkwo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adjagba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult