title: Pneumonia among children under five in Uganda: symptom recognition and actions taken by caretakers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pneumonia is a leading cause of death among children under five years of age. Pneumonia deaths could be averted if caretakers recognized the danger signs and sought appropriate treatment promptly.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed 278 caretakers in Mukono district Uganda, whose under-five children had suffered from probable pneumonia two weeks prior to the evaluation. Through structured questionnaires we assessed caretaker's knowledge about danger signs among under-five children with pneumonia and the actions taken to manage probable pneumonia using descriptive statistics. We also conducted in-depth interviews with caretakers and community health workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower chest wall in drawing (a pneumonia specific danger sign) was mentioned by only 9.4% of the caretakers. Among the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) standard general danger signs, inability to feed was the most commonly cited danger sign (37.8%) followed by incessant vomiting (10.1%). No caretaker mentioned all the four standard general danger signs. In terms of actions taken, most caretakers offered drinks (49.6%) and traditional herbs (45.3%) while, 31.7% gave antibiotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caretaker's knowledge about danger signs was inadequate in relation to the IMCI guidelines. Caretakers used both modern and traditional forms of treatment to manage pneumonia. Comprehensive interventions geared at increasing symptom recognition and improving health-seeking behavior are needed to reverse this trend.
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tuhebwe
authors.affiliation: Mukono District Health Office, District Health Office.
authors.forename: Elly
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tumushabe
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Elli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leontsini
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Rhoda K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wanyenze
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017028:Caregivers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003150:Community Health Workers; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Care seeking; Dangers signs; Knowledge; Pneumonia; Uganda
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