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Tanzania Health Research Bulletin
Health User's Trust Fund (HRUTF)
ISSN: 0856-6496
Vol. 8, No. 3, 2006, pp. 155-161
Bioline Code: rb06029
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge

Tanzania Health Research Bulletin, Vol. 8, No. 3, 2006, pp. 155-161

 en Caretaker's perceptions, attitudes and practices regarding childhood febrile illness and diarrhoeal diseases among riparian communities of Lake Victoria, Tanzania
Kaatano, G.M.; Muro, A.I.S & Medard, M.

Abstract

Understanding community perceptions and attitudes towards childhood illness is important in developing appropriate interventions. A cross sectional survey was therefore, conducted in a riparian community of Lake Victoria basin in Tanzania to determine caretakers' perception, attitudes and practices on childhood malaria and diarrhoeal diseases. Among 336 caretakers interviewed, 61.1% (205) reported febrile illness in children within three months and 26.0% reported a diarrhoeal episode among children within two weeks before the survey. The majority of the respondents reported high fever (98.7%) and prostration (53.7%) as major symptoms of severe malaria. Convulsions were associated with high fever by only 13.7% of the respondents. Forty percent of the respondents attributed convulsions in children to either fever or malaria, and 24.4 % correctly mentioned high fever or malaria. A health facility was the first point of care for childhood malaria for the majority (73%) of the respondents. In diarrhoeal diseases, prostration-weakness (67.7%) and dysentery (20.4%) were commonly reported among the respondents. Typical symptoms of severe dehydration (sunken eyes, loss of skin turgor, dry tears) were poorly recognised as characteristics of severe diarrhoeal diseases. Over 85% of the respondents practiced appropriate dietary measures or increased fluid intake for a child who had diarrhoea. Use of anti-diarrhoea (40.8%) and antibiotic medications (34.8%) were common in the treatment of diarrhoeal diseases. It is important that health education emphasizing recognitions of danger signs/symptoms of malaria and diarrhoeal diseases and their management is strengthened among riparian communities in Lake Victoria basin.

Keywords
Malaria, diarrhoea, knowledge, practices, caretakers, children, Tanzania

 
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