The Healthcare Seeking Time of Caregivers/Parents of Under Five Children with Fever in Kisugu Health center III, Namuwongo-Kampala.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In Uganda fever symptoms are mostly related to malaria infection while other causes considered minor in health centers leading to the misuse of antimalaria medications that brings about drug resistance.(home-based management of fever strategy using chloroquine and sulphadoxine -pyremethamine SP in 2004 WHO reported widespread resistance.) Caregivers of children under five years health care seeking time therefore matters to promote early diagnosis and management of the cause of fever. MAIN OBJECTIVE: The study aims at identifying the duration spent among children under five years with a fever before coming for medical care and the factors influencing the health care seeking time as well as the number of children under five who present with a fever to the health centre. This will help find possible solutions hence decreasing the child mortality rates for the under fives.

METHOD: The data collection was done using questionnaires to those mothers who can read and write then interview questionnaires for those who cannot read and write. These questionnaires was used in the outpatient department (OPD) to any mother having a child under five years with a fever and willing to participate in the research. All ethical issues and patient rights will be observed during the research.

RESULTS: The study shows that out of 282 caregivers of children under five years, 156(55.3%) could tell a child had a fever by touching the child‟s forehead for increased temperature than usual while 53(18.8%), majority of the caregivers 126(44.7%) were mothers to the child 130(46.1%) and126(44.7%) reported to have spent about 13-24 hours before going to the health center and 62.41% caregivers practiced self medication before reporting to Kisugu health center III. CONCLUSION: Majority of the caregivers of children under five with a fever seek health care within 13- 24hours and many stated the reason to be that the fever started late evening and night therefore could not access medical help in Kisugu health center iii OPD(Out Patient Department.