COST ANALYSIS OF MALARIA TREATMENT IN CHILDREN IN NNEWI AND UKPO TOWNS IN ANAMBRA STATE.

COST ANALYSIS OF MALARIA TREATMENT IN CHILDREN IN NNEWI AND UKPO TOWNS IN ANAMBRA STATE.

Abstract

Malaria has been known to be a disease of poverty; it is caused by poverty and is also a cause of poverty. In endemic areas, many households suffer significant economic loss due to the illness both directly and indirectly. However, the poor is disproportionately more affected than the rich, even within the same locality. This study was aimed at assessing the cost of treatment of malaria and to identify factors influencing it in children below 12 years of age in Nnewi and Ukpo towns of Anambra state.
This is a comparative study of two purposively selected towns, one urban and one rural. Only households with under-12 children who have suffered ‘suspected malaria attack’ 3 months before the study were studied. A total of 54 households were selected from each of 4 villages in both towns using cluster sampling technique, thus a total of 216 households were selected. Information was elicited from the respondents using semi-structured interview administered questionnaire and data collected were analyzed using a SPSS version 11.
The mean age of the respondents were 31.65±5.88 years and 32.79± 7.03 years for Nnewi and Ukpo respectively (t=1.83, p=0.068). The socioeconomic status of the respondents from both communities did not differ significantly with respect to educational status (X2 =2.84, p=0.092), but there was a significant difference in pattern of place of residence (X2=10.19, p=0.001). The women earned a median income of N20, 000.00 and N6, 000.00 per month for Nnewi and Ukpo respectively. The total cost of
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malaria treatment per case was N2, 610.87 ± 1254.00 ($20.56) and N1, 624.76 ± 800.89 ($12.79) for rural and urban towns respectively. The mean direct cost of malaria treatment was N669.94±496.00 for the rural and N721.96±487.35, for the urban excluding those with severe malaria, with drugs accounting for 70% of the total cost. The indirect cost of malaria treatment incurred by households in Nnewi was N902.80 ± N902.80 ±313.54 ($7.11), per illness episode, while their counterparts at Ukpo lost N1, 940.93 ± 758.00 ($15.28).. Furthermore, 182 (84%) of the households in the urban area suffered loss of income consequent upon the illness episode, compared to only 126 (54%) at Ukpo. The care-givers from the rural community and their children lost more time per malaria episode compared to those in the urban area. Most households 170 (78.7%) in Nnewi utilized health facilities for treatment of malaria, while only 111 (51%) of them at Ukpo did the same. Factors identified to have influenced cost of treatment of malaria include; locality, socio-economic status, access to healthcare, choice of place of treatment, number of visits to health facilities and duration of illness.
In conclusion, the study further demonstrates disproportionate affectation of the poor by malaria since they suffered more economic loss per malaria episode and had limited access to health care. Therefore, there is need for policy makers to see malaria control as a poverty alleviation strategy. Efforts should be made to reduce the cost of malaria drugs which contributes significantly to malaria treatment cost; more so now that more expensive ACTs are being advocated.

Title Page———i

Certification——–ii

Dedication———iii

Acknowledgement——-iv

Abstract ———vi

Table of Content——–vii

 

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction ——-1

1.1 Statement of Problem——4

1.2 Purpose of the Study——5

1.3 Significance of Study——8

1.4 Limitation——–9

1.5 Scope of Study——-11

 

Chapter Two

2.0 Review of Related Literature —-12

2.6 Summary of Literature Review—- 19

 

Chapter Three

3.0 Research Methodology and Procedure—22

3.1 Population ——–22

3.2 Sample and Sampling Technique—-22

3.3 Validation of the Instrument —-23

3.4 Reliability of the Instrument —–23

3.5 Data Analysis——-23

 

Chapter Four

4.0 Presentation and Discussion of Result—24

4.1 Analysis and interpretaion of Data—25

4.2 Discussion of Results——38

 

Chapter Five

5.0. Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendation  –40

5.1 Summary——–40

5.2 Conclusion——–41

5.3 Recommendation——42

References ———45

Appendix 1——–47

Appendix ———50

COST ANALYSIS OF MALARIA TREATMENT IN CHILDREN IN NNEWI AND UKPO TOWNS IN ANAMBRA STATE.

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