Socioeconomic Determinants Of Treatment Choice For Childhood Fever In Kenya

Abstract

The existence of fever, especially in young children, gives an indication of existence of an underlying health condition that would require treatment. Acute fever in most cases is caused by respiratory infections that results from a virus such as gastroenteritis; colds or flu; certain bacterial infections, particularly ear infection, urinary tract infection and pneumonia; parasitic infections such as malaria. Once fever is detected, it will prompt the mother or caregiver to seek for remedial measures through treatment, which can be buying drugs over the counter in shops, visiting health facilities or using traditional treatment. Despite gains due to concerted policy initiatives, the number of deaths in under 5 years is still extremely high. In the year 2016 alone, 5.6 million children died across the globe before celebrating their fifth birthday with new-borns representing for a rising proportion of these deaths. Children from poor families are at the highest risk of below five mortalities. Data from WHO shows that given the current trend, at least 60 nations are likely to miss the SDG target on neonatal mortality for 2030 while half of these nations will not meet the target even by 2050 (WHO, 2016). Data from Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that in 2017, pneumonia, malaria and cancer were the top causes of death in Kenya with Pneumonia causing 22% of the deaths in 2017 (Economic Survey, 2018). These diseases mostly manifest as acute fever in children under-five as mother or caregiver can easily notice the main symptom. Once fever is detected, it will prompt the mother or caregiver to seek for remedial measures through treatment, which can be buying drugs over the counter in shops, visiting health facilities or using traditional treatment. Statistics show that only sixty-three percent (63%) of children who had fever sought treatment from a health facility. It is important for all children to be checked when they have fever. Why then are some children not presented for examination when fever manifests putting them at risk death? This study sought to identify the socio-economic determinants of treatment choice for fever in children under five years. To accomplish the above objective, the study used a Multinomial Probit Model with data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, 2014. The study found out that age of the child, urban residence, education, religion and wealth index are significant determinants of treatment choice for childhood treatment. Policies that reduce the cost of healthcare for the children from deprived families, promote education for women (by provision of sanitary towels for girls, lowering the entry-level grades for girls and provision of bursaries and loans), and build more health facilities in the rural areas will go a long way in promoting use of health services for treatment of childhood fevers