Proximate family biosocial variables associated with severe malaria disease among under-five children in resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in eastern Nigeria

Background: Malaria threatens the life of under-five in rural Nigerian families. Although, factors that influence malaria in under-five are manifold. However, family biosocial factors may contribute to the variability of the clinical picture. Aim: To determine proximate family biosocial variable ass...

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Main Authors: Gabriel Uche Pascal Iloh, Abali Chuku, Agwu Nkwa Amadi, John Nnaemeka Ofoedu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2013;volume=2;issue=3;spage=256;epage=262;aulast=Iloh
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spelling doaj-d59237ce651b4187b0879a30bee9cce42020-11-24T22:08:36ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632013-01-012325626210.4103/2249-4863.120739Proximate family biosocial variables associated with severe malaria disease among under-five children in resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in eastern NigeriaGabriel Uche Pascal IlohAbali ChukuAgwu Nkwa AmadiJohn Nnaemeka OfoeduBackground: Malaria threatens the life of under-five in rural Nigerian families. Although, factors that influence malaria in under-five are manifold. However, family biosocial factors may contribute to the variability of the clinical picture. Aim: To determine proximate family biosocial variable associated with severe malaria among under-five children in a resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in Eastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out on the families of under-five managed for malaria. Data extracted included family biosocial variables and diagnosis. An under-five child was defined to have malaria if the mother gave complaints of fever, vomiting, and other symptoms suggestive of malaria, had body temperature exceeding 37.5°C with the asexual forms of Plasmodium falciparum detected on the peripheral blood film. Severe malaria is the malaria that presents with life-threatening features like severe anemia and cerebral malaria. Results: The prevalence of severe malaria was 31.8% The family biosocial variables significantly associated with severe malaria were maternal low level of education (P = 0.031), family size >4 (P = 0.044), low social class of the family (P = 0.025), nonliving together of parents (P = 0.011), and poor access to health facilities (P = 0.038). The most significant predictor of severe malaria was nonliving together of parents (P = 0.000, odds ratio = 3.08, confidence interval = 1.64-5.10). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that some family biosocial variables are associated with severe malaria. These families should constitute at risk families that could be targeted for malaria interventional programs.http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2013;volume=2;issue=3;spage=256;epage=262;aulast=IlohFamily variableshospitalNigeriaruralsevere malariaunder-five
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Gabriel Uche Pascal Iloh
Abali Chuku
Agwu Nkwa Amadi
John Nnaemeka Ofoedu
spellingShingle Gabriel Uche Pascal Iloh
Abali Chuku
Agwu Nkwa Amadi
John Nnaemeka Ofoedu
Proximate family biosocial variables associated with severe malaria disease among under-five children in resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in eastern Nigeria
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Family variables
hospital
Nigeria
rural
severe malaria
under-five
author_facet Gabriel Uche Pascal Iloh
Abali Chuku
Agwu Nkwa Amadi
John Nnaemeka Ofoedu
author_sort Gabriel Uche Pascal Iloh
title Proximate family biosocial variables associated with severe malaria disease among under-five children in resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in eastern Nigeria
title_short Proximate family biosocial variables associated with severe malaria disease among under-five children in resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in eastern Nigeria
title_full Proximate family biosocial variables associated with severe malaria disease among under-five children in resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in eastern Nigeria
title_fullStr Proximate family biosocial variables associated with severe malaria disease among under-five children in resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in eastern Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Proximate family biosocial variables associated with severe malaria disease among under-five children in resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in eastern Nigeria
title_sort proximate family biosocial variables associated with severe malaria disease among under-five children in resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in eastern nigeria
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
series Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
issn 2249-4863
publishDate 2013-01-01
description Background: Malaria threatens the life of under-five in rural Nigerian families. Although, factors that influence malaria in under-five are manifold. However, family biosocial factors may contribute to the variability of the clinical picture. Aim: To determine proximate family biosocial variable associated with severe malaria among under-five children in a resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in Eastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out on the families of under-five managed for malaria. Data extracted included family biosocial variables and diagnosis. An under-five child was defined to have malaria if the mother gave complaints of fever, vomiting, and other symptoms suggestive of malaria, had body temperature exceeding 37.5°C with the asexual forms of Plasmodium falciparum detected on the peripheral blood film. Severe malaria is the malaria that presents with life-threatening features like severe anemia and cerebral malaria. Results: The prevalence of severe malaria was 31.8% The family biosocial variables significantly associated with severe malaria were maternal low level of education (P = 0.031), family size >4 (P = 0.044), low social class of the family (P = 0.025), nonliving together of parents (P = 0.011), and poor access to health facilities (P = 0.038). The most significant predictor of severe malaria was nonliving together of parents (P = 0.000, odds ratio = 3.08, confidence interval = 1.64-5.10). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that some family biosocial variables are associated with severe malaria. These families should constitute at risk families that could be targeted for malaria interventional programs.
topic Family variables
hospital
Nigeria
rural
severe malaria
under-five
url http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2013;volume=2;issue=3;spage=256;epage=262;aulast=Iloh
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