Multi-Level Determinants of Late Malaria Treatment among under-Five Children in West Africa

Sarafa Shittu, Federal University Oye-Ekiti,Ekiti State
Ridwan Shittu, Federal University Oye-Ekiti,Ekiti State

ABSTRACT This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of lateness of malaria treatment and its determinants among under-five children in selected countries of West Africa at individual, household and community level. The study employed secondary data (MIS data), the most recent kids recode from four African countries: Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal. Dependent variable (malaria treatment), dichotomized into early treatment and late treatment. The independent variables were women socio-economic characteristics and factors at household and community level. Using STATA package, descriptive statistics, chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used in analysing data to establish the factors influencing malaria treatment of under-five children in the countries The study showed that about three-fifths (59.56%), about two-fifths (42.77%), about half (49.79%) and about half (45.3%) of the women from Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal respectively delay the treatment after noticing the symptoms. Age of mothers, Mothers’ wealth index, mothers’ education, mothers’ place of residence and sex of the children were factors positively associated with late treatment in the selected countries at individual, household and community levels hence, intervention targeting these populations at the individual - community level would play a significant role in curbing the menace of Malaria in these countries.

Keywords: Multi-level modeling , Mortality and Longevity, Children, Adolescents, and Youth

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