title: Seeking treatment for uncomplicated malaria: experiences from the Kintampo districts of Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malaria accounts for many deaths and illnesses, mostly among young children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. An integrated approach is recommended to ensure effective malaria control. Socio-cultural factors continue to serve as determinants of malaria health-seeking behaviour. An INDEPTH effectiveness and safety study platform was established to unearth issues around the use of licensed and nationally recommended anti-malarials in real life settings. This study reports on treatment-seeking behaviour for uncomplicated malaria among community members.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study was conducted in the dry and rainy seasons in purposively selected communities in Kintampo north and south districts. This was based on distances to a health facility, ethnicity and availability of medicines at the sale outlets. Twenty-four focus group discussions were conducted among adult men, women care-takers of children less than 5 years and pregnant women. Ten INDEPTH interviews were also conducted among operators of medicine sale outlets and managers of health facilities. Fifty-one illnesses narrative interviews were conducted among adult men, women, women caretakers of children less than 5 years and pregnant women. Transcripts were transferred into Nvivo 8 software for data management and analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The artemisinin-based combinations that were commonly known and used were artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine. Use of herbal preparation to treat diseases including uncomplicated malaria is rife in the communities. Drug stores were not the main source of artemisinin-based combination sales at time of the study. Monotherapies, pain killers and other medicines were purchased from these shops for malaria treatment. Dizziness, general body weakness and sleepiness were noted among respondents who used artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in the past.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no clear cut trajectory for management of uncomplicated malaria in the study area. Different approaches are adopted when treating malaria. There is need for community education to influence behaviour on the management of malaria to achieve real gains from ACT use.
authors.affiliation: Kintampo Health Research Centre, P. O. Box 200, Kintampo, Ghana. lawrence.febir@kintampo-hrc.org.
authors.forename: Lawrence G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Febir
authors.affiliation: Kintampo Health Research Centre, P. O. Box 200, Kintampo, Ghana. kwakupoku.asante@kintampo-hrc.org.
authors.forename: Kwaku Poku
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Asante
authors.affiliation: Kintampo Health Research Centre, P. O. Box 200, Kintampo, Ghana. Samuel.afari-asiedu@kintampo-hrc.org.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afari-Asiedu
authors.affiliation: Kintampo Health Research Centre, P. O. Box 200, Kintampo, Ghana. livesy.abokyi@kintampo-kintampo-hrc.org.
authors.forename: Livesy N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Abokyi
authors.affiliation: Kintampo Health Research Centre, P. O. Box 200, Kintampo, Ghana. anthony.kwarteng@kintampo-kintampo-hrc.org.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kwarteng
authors.affiliation: INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana. bernhards.ogutu@indepth-network.org.
authors.forename: Bernhards
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ogutu
authors.affiliation: Dodowa Health Research Centre, P. O. Box DD1, Dodowa, Ghana. Margaret.gyapong@ghsmail.org.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gyapong
authors.affiliation: Kintampo Health Research Centre, P. O. Box 200, Kintampo, Ghana. seth.owusu-agyei@kintampo-hrc.org.
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Owusu-Agyei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000655:Amodiaquine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005449:Fluorenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; C515299:amodiaquine, artesunate drug combination; D000655:Amodiaquine