11814209

pubmed:Citation

1

This study, conducted on the Kenyan coast, assesses the effect of intra-household relations on maternal treatment-seeking. Rural and urban Mijikenda mothers' responses to childhood fevers in the last 2 weeks (n=317), and to childhood convulsions in the previous year (n=43), were documented through survey work. The intra-household relations and decision-making dynamics surrounding maternal responses were explored through in-depth individual and group interviews, primarily with women (n=223). Responses to convulsions were more likely than responses to fevers to include a healer consultation (p<0.0001), and less likely to include the purchase of over-the-counter medications (p<0.0001). Mothers received financial or advisory assistance from others in 71% (n=236) of actions taken outside the household in response to fevers. In-depth interviews suggested that general agreement on appropriate therapy results in relatively few intra-household conflicts over the treatment of fevers. Disputes over perceived cause and appropriate therapy of convulsions, however, highlighted the importance of age, gender and relationship to household head in intra-household relations and treatment decision-making. Although mothers' treatment-seeking preferences are often circumscribed by these relations, a number of strategies can be drawn upon to circumvent 'inappropriate' decisions, sometimes with implications for future household responses to similar syndromes. The findings highlight the complexity of intra-household relations and treatment decision-making dynamics. Tentative implications for interventions aimed at improving the home management of malaria, and for further research, are presented.

http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/journal/0177346

MEDLINE

0021-9320

Print

NLM

109-31

pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Adaptation, Psychological, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Adolescent, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Adult, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Child, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Child, Preschool, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Decision Making, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Family Characteristics, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Family Relations, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Female, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Fever, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Infant, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Kenya, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Parents, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Patient Acceptance of Health Care, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Population Surveillance, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Role, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Seizures, pubmed-meshheading:11814209-Social Perception

Intra-household relations and treatment decision-making for childhood illness: a Kenyan case study.

Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't