Determinants of Late Malaria Treatment among Under-Five Children in West Africa

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background</bold> : The increase in malaria-caused deaths poses a concern, especially in African countries. Malaria, as severe as it is, if treated early, may be prevented from reaching severe stages that may lead to death. Its endemic in some African countries is due to its early treatment failure. The study examined the prevalence and its determinants among mothers in the selected countries: Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal. <bold>Methodology</bold> : The cross-sectional study design employed secondary data (Malaria Indicator Survey data) from four selected African countries: Mali. Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal. Data were analyzed using the Stata package, descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression in establishing the factors influencing responsiveness to the treatment. <bold>Results</bold> : The prevalence of the treatment delay was highest in Mali. Children’s sex, mothers' wealth index, and place of residence were the factors associated with treatment delay ( <bold>ꭓ</bold> ² = <sup/> 21.14; ꭓ ² = <sup/> 28.75; ꭓ ² =26.46, respectively; P&lt;0.05, 95% CI) in Senegal. Mothers’ wealth index and education attained were the factors positively associated with late treatment of malaria ( <bold>ꭓ</bold> ² = <sup/> 81.86; ꭓ ² = <sup/> 125.13, respectively; P&lt;0.05, 95% CI) in Nigeria. <bold/> Mothers’ place of residence was the only factor positively associated with the late treatment (ꭓ ² = <sup/> 5.93; 95% CI) in Niger while age of mothers, Mothers’ wealth index, education level and place of residence were the factors positively associated with delay treatment (ꭓ ² = <sup/> 16.16; ꭓ ² = <sup/> 38.55; ꭓ ² = <sup/> 23.15; ꭓ ² , <sup/> 28.23 respectively; 95% CI) in Mali <bold>.</bold> <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Intervention targeting these populations would play a significant role in curbing the menace of Malaria in these countries.