Investigating the management practices of malaria in children below five years in Nagongera town council, Tororo district

Abstract

Malaria is one of the severe public health problems worldwide. It is the leading cause of death and disease in many developing countries, where young children are among the worst affected especially children aged 6 months to five years who account for the 80% of malaria deaths in the Sub-Saharan region in Africa. Uganda has one of the highest global burden of malaria cases with 90% of the population at risk and having malaria as the leading cause of death especially in children. To achieve the new global targets for malaria control and elimination by 2030, and to sustain elimination once achieved, there should be a combined effort from home practices alongside services provided by health facilities that include performing malaria testing using RDTs etc. The homes should be involved because the disease can be got right from home and so it can be managed right from the home to the health facilities. This study aimed at Investigating the management practices of malaria in children below five years in Nagongera town council, Tororo district. This was a cross sectional survey research where respondents were selected randomly and included Health workers from Nagongera health center IV, parents from Chalumba and Sesera Ramogi villages in Nagongera Town council. The data was collected using questionnaires, oral interviews and observation. The study included 50 respondents all these respondents (100%) take their children to health facilities for malaria treatment and also sleep under insecticide treated mosquito nets. The suggested best malaria preventive measures were having children under treated mosquito nets, extending a health center II to these villages and availing the anti-malarial drugs in the health center.