Presumptive self-diagnosis of malaria and other febrile illnesses in Sierra Leone.

Rashid Ansumana; Kathryn H Jacobsen; Aiah Albert Gbakima; Mary Hamer Hodges; Joseph Morrison Lamin; Tomasz Andrzej Leski; Anthony Peter Malanoski; Baochuan Lin; Moses Bockarie; David Andrew Stenger

doi:10.11604/pamj.2013.15.34.2291

Presumptive self-diagnosis of malaria and other febrile illnesses in Sierra Leone.

Rashid Ansumana
, Kathryn H Jacobsen
, Aiah Albert Gbakima
, Mary Hamer Hodges
, Joseph Morrison Lamin
, Tomasz Andrzej Leski
, Anthony Peter Malanoski
, Baochuan Lin
, Moses Bockarie
, David Andrew Stenger

Tropical Disease Biology

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self-diagnosis of malaria and other febrile illnesses in Bo, Sierra Leone.

METHODS

All households in two neighboring sections of Bo were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey.

RESULTS

A total of 882 households (an 85% participation rate) that were home to 5410 individuals participated in the study. Of the 910 individuals reported to have had what the household considered to be malaria in the past month, only 41% were diagnosed by a healthcare professional or a laboratory test. Of the 1402 individuals reported to have had any type of febrile illness within the past six months, only 34% had sought a clinical or laboratory diagnosis. Self-diagnosis of influenza, yellow fever, typhoid, and pneumonia was also common.

CONCLUSION

Self-diagnosis and presumptive treatment with antimalarial drugs and other antibiotic medications that are readily available without a prescription may compromise health outcomes for febrile adults and children.

Original language	English
Article number	34
Pages (from-to)	34
Journal	Pan African Medical Journal
Volume	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2013.15.34.2291
Publication status	Published - 26 May 2013

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Community pharmacy services
Fevers
Health services accessibility
Malaria
Self-care
West Africa

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10.11604/pamj.2013.15.34.2291Licence: CC BY

Pan Afr Med J 15 34Final published version, 299 KBLicence: CC BY

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title = "Presumptive self-diagnosis of malaria and other febrile illnesses in Sierra Leone.",

abstract = "INTRODUCTIONThe objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self-diagnosis of malaria and other febrile illnesses in Bo, Sierra Leone.METHODSAll households in two neighboring sections of Bo were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey.RESULTSA total of 882 households (an 85\% participation rate) that were home to 5410 individuals participated in the study. Of the 910 individuals reported to have had what the household considered to be malaria in the past month, only 41\% were diagnosed by a healthcare professional or a laboratory test. Of the 1402 individuals reported to have had any type of febrile illness within the past six months, only 34\% had sought a clinical or laboratory diagnosis. Self-diagnosis of influenza, yellow fever, typhoid, and pneumonia was also common.CONCLUSIONSelf-diagnosis and presumptive treatment with antimalarial drugs and other antibiotic medications that are readily available without a prescription may compromise health outcomes for febrile adults and children.",

keywords = "Community pharmacy services, Fevers, Health services accessibility, Malaria, Self-care, West Africa",

author = "Rashid Ansumana and Jacobsen, \{Kathryn H\} and Gbakima, \{Aiah Albert\} and Hodges, \{Mary Hamer\} and Lamin, \{Joseph Morrison\} and Leski, \{Tomasz Andrzej\} and Malanoski, \{Anthony Peter\} and Baochuan Lin and Moses Bockarie and Stenger, \{David Andrew\}",

year = "2013",

month = may,

day = "26",

doi = "10.11604/pamj.2013.15.34.2291",

language = "English",

volume = "15",

pages = "34",

journal = "Pan African Medical Journal",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Presumptive self-diagnosis of malaria and other febrile illnesses in Sierra Leone.

AU - Ansumana, Rashid

AU - Jacobsen, Kathryn H

AU - Gbakima, Aiah Albert

AU - Hodges, Mary Hamer

AU - Lamin, Joseph Morrison

AU - Leski, Tomasz Andrzej

AU - Malanoski, Anthony Peter

AU - Lin, Baochuan

AU - Bockarie, Moses

AU - Stenger, David Andrew

PY - 2013/5/26

Y1 - 2013/5/26

N2 - INTRODUCTIONThe objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self-diagnosis of malaria and other febrile illnesses in Bo, Sierra Leone.METHODSAll households in two neighboring sections of Bo were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey.RESULTSA total of 882 households (an 85% participation rate) that were home to 5410 individuals participated in the study. Of the 910 individuals reported to have had what the household considered to be malaria in the past month, only 41% were diagnosed by a healthcare professional or a laboratory test. Of the 1402 individuals reported to have had any type of febrile illness within the past six months, only 34% had sought a clinical or laboratory diagnosis. Self-diagnosis of influenza, yellow fever, typhoid, and pneumonia was also common.CONCLUSIONSelf-diagnosis and presumptive treatment with antimalarial drugs and other antibiotic medications that are readily available without a prescription may compromise health outcomes for febrile adults and children.

AB - INTRODUCTIONThe objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self-diagnosis of malaria and other febrile illnesses in Bo, Sierra Leone.METHODSAll households in two neighboring sections of Bo were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey.RESULTSA total of 882 households (an 85% participation rate) that were home to 5410 individuals participated in the study. Of the 910 individuals reported to have had what the household considered to be malaria in the past month, only 41% were diagnosed by a healthcare professional or a laboratory test. Of the 1402 individuals reported to have had any type of febrile illness within the past six months, only 34% had sought a clinical or laboratory diagnosis. Self-diagnosis of influenza, yellow fever, typhoid, and pneumonia was also common.CONCLUSIONSelf-diagnosis and presumptive treatment with antimalarial drugs and other antibiotic medications that are readily available without a prescription may compromise health outcomes for febrile adults and children.

KW - Community pharmacy services

KW - Fevers

KW - Health services accessibility

KW - Malaria

KW - Self-care

KW - West Africa

U2 - 10.11604/pamj.2013.15.34.2291

DO - 10.11604/pamj.2013.15.34.2291

M3 - Article

SN - 1937-8688

VL - 15

SP - 34

JO - Pan African Medical Journal

JF - Pan African Medical Journal

M1 - 34

ER -

Presumptive self-diagnosis of malaria and other febrile illnesses in Sierra Leone.

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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