Determinants of Delay in Malaria Prompt Diagnosis and Timely Treatment among Under-Five Children in Shashogo Woreda, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Background: Ensuring prompt diagnosis and timely malaria treatment will prevent most cases of uncomplicated malaria from progressing to severe and fatal illness. To avoid this progression, treatment must begin as soon as possible, generally within 24 hours after symptoms onset. The reason why mothers/caretakers delay in malaria prompt diagnosis and timely treatment for under-five is not well studied in the study area as well as in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess determinants of delay in malaria prompt diagnosis and timely treatment among under-five children in Shashogo Woreda, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2013. Methods: An unmatched case control study was conducted from March 25-April 25, 2013. A total sample size of 302 with 151 cases and 151 controls were selected by systematic random sampling techniques. Cases were under-five children who had clinical malaria and sought treatment after 24 hours of symptoms onset, and controls were under-five children who had clinical malaria and sought treatment within 24 hours of symptoms onset. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were done to identify determinant of delay in malaria prompt diagnosis and timely treatment. Results: A total of 151 mothers/caretakers of cases and 151 mothers/caretakers of controls were interviewed. Illiterate mothers (AOR = 7.14; 95%CI: 1.10, 46.39), monthly income ≤500 ETB (AOR = 5.49; 95%CI: 2.09, 14.45), females sex (AOR = 3.45; 95%CI: 1.62, 7.34), distance from health facility >5 km (AOR = 4.31; 95%CI: 1.22, 15.23), absence of history of child death (AOR = 4.21; 95%CI: 1.514, 11.68), side effects of antimalarial drugs (AOR = 2.91; 95%CI: 1.15, 7.33) and khat chewing (AOR = 2.38; 95%CI: 1.28, 5.79) were determinants of delay in malaria prompt diagnosis and timely treatment of under-five children. Conclusion: Mother’s education, monthly income, distance from health facility, absence of history of child death, complained about side effects of drugs and khat chewing were predictors of delay of prompt diagnosis and timely malaria treatment. Effective malaria control programs revision would be required to avoid delay of prompt diagnosis and timely treatment for under-five children.