Abstract
Background
Early diagnosis and treatment of malaria should take place within 24 h of the onset of symptoms. However, delay in malaria diagnosis and treatment is a major problem in Ethiopia. A paucity of information on the magnitude and associated factors is aggravating the problem.
Objectives
This study was conducted to assess the delay in malaria diagnosis and treatment and respective determinants in rural communities of Oromia Special Zone, Ethiopia, to generate information to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Methods
A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from 14 February to 21 April 2017. A structured questionnaire was prepared in English by reviewing the literature and translated into the local language (Afan Oromo). To assure the quality of data, the questionnaire was pre-tested. Logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with delay. Then, all explanatory variables associated with the outcome variable in bivariate analysis were included in multivariable analysis.
Results
A total of 394 respondents were included in the study with 100% response rate. Of the participants, 241 (61%) did not seek diagnosis and treatment on time. Households located more than 5 km away from a health facility (AOR = 4.18; 2.82–6.22; p < 0.001) were more likely to experience delay in diagnosis and treatment. Those respondents who had knowledge about the prevention of malaria were less likely to experience delay. In addition, respondents who had no history of death from malaria among their family members were more likely to delay (AOR = 2.5; 1.27–5.05; p = 0.008). Alcohol users were more likely to be late seeking a diagnosis and treatment than those who did not drink alcohol (AOR = 5.55; 3.53–8.73; p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Distance from the health facility, history of death from malaria in the family and alcohol use were associated with delay. However, knowledge about malaria prevention and control was a protective factor. Therefore, service providers might focus on the identified factors for early diagnosis and treatment.
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Change history
30 January 2018
The journal had been advised to revise the title so that Clarivate Analytics can try to count the citations more accurately. There’s been confusion due to the existence of another journal with the same name.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the Mekelle University College of Health Sciences for the funding and ethical clearance, and Oromia Regional Health bureau, Oromia Special zone health office and local woreda administration for the support letter. We are thank our participants for their participation in this study and the Oromiya special zone health care providers for their kind cooperation throughout the study.
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The original version of this article was revised: Due to the existence of another journal with the same name, the Publisher has added a subtitle, “From Theory to Practice.” Effective as of January 2018, the new title of this Journal is Journal of Public Health: From Theory to Practice.
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Regassa, H., Taffere, G. & Gebregergs, G. Delay in malaria diagnosis and treatment and its determinants among rural communities of the Oromia special zone, Ethiopia: facility-based cross-sectional study. J Public Health 26, 339–344 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-017-0863-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-017-0863-7