title: Malaria Related Perceptions, Care Seeking after Onset of Fever and Anti-Malarial Drug Use in Malaria Endemic Settings of Southwest Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prompt care seeking and appropriate use of anti-malarial drugs are critical components of malaria prevention and control. This study assessed malaria related perceptions, care seeking behavior and anti-malarial drug use in malaria endemic settings of Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were generated from a community based cross-sectional study conducted among 798 households during January 2014 as part of a larger household behavioral study in three malaria endemic districts of Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed using SPSS 17.0 and STATA 12.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, only 76.1% of the respondents associated malaria to mosquito bite, and incorrect beliefs and perceptions were noted. Despite moderate level of knowledge (estimated mean = 62.2, Std Err = 0.7, 95% CI: 60.6-63.8%), quite high favorable attitude (overall estimated mean = 91.5, Std Err = 0.6, 95% CI: 90.1-92.9%) were recorded towards malaria preventive measures. The mean attitude score for prompt care seeking, appropriate use of anti-malarial drugs, LLIN use and Indoor Residual Spray acceptance was 98.5 (Std Err = 0.4, 95% CI:97.5-99.4), 92.7 (Std Err = 0.6 95% CI:91.5-93.9), 88.8 (Std Err = 0.5, 95% CI:85.5-92.1) and 86.5 (Std Err = 1.2, 95% CI: 83.9-89.1), respectively. The prevalence of fever was 2.9% (116/4107) and of the study participants with fever, 71.9% (95% CI: 65.5-78.3%) sought care and all of them consulted formal health care system. However, only 17 (19.8%) sought care within 24 hours after onset of fever. The frequency of care seeking was higher (77.8%, n = 21/27) and more prompt (28.6%, 6/21) for children under five as compared to old age groups despite it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, higher median time of seeking first care was observed among Muslims and people who did not attend school (p < 0.05). Of those who used anti-malarial drugs, 9.1% indicated that they used it inappropriately through saving and/or sharing. Irregular availability of anti-malarial drugs; irregular presence of frontline health workers and misconceptions were mentioned to contribute to delayed care seeking and irrational use of anti-malarial drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although care seeking behavior for febrile illness was quite high in this community, the habit of prompt care seeking was very limited. Thus, malaria prevention and control programs need to take into account local misconceptions and wrong perceptions, and health system factors to achieve optimal health seeking behavior in such malaria endemic settings.
authors: Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors: Zewdie
authors: Z
authors: Birhanu
authors: Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors: Lakew
authors: L
authors: Abebe
authors: Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors: Morankar
authors: M
authors: Sudhakar
authors: President's Malaria Initiative, United States Agency for International Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors: Gunawardena
authors: G
authors: Dissanayake
authors: Abt Associates, Africa Indoor Residual Spraying, Accra, Ghana.
authors: Yemane Ye-Ebiyo
authors: YY
authors: Yihdego
authors: President's Malaria Initiative, United States Agency for International Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors: Guda
authors: G
authors: Alemayehu
authors: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.|Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
authors: Delenasaw
authors: D
authors: Yewhalaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010465:Perception; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials