Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37883486›Full record

ArticlePloS one2023

Malaria treatment health seeking behaviors among international students at the University of Ghana Legon.

Mathias Lwenge, Philip Govule, Simon Peter Katongole, Phyllis Dako-Gyeke

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.2field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.

Mathias LwengeDepartment of Social and Behavioural Sciences, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0001-6015-8625
Philip GovuleDepartment of Epidemiology and Disease Control, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Simon Peter KatongoleDepartment of Health Policy, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0002-5074-3676
Phyllis Dako-GyekeDepartment of Social and Behavioural Sciences, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
University of Ghana · GH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAppropriate management of malaria demands early health seeking behaviour upon suspicion of malaria-like symptoms. This study examined malaria treatment seeking behaviour and associated factors among international students at University of Ghana.

methodsThe study used a cross-sectional and quantitative approach. Data collection was undertaken using a structured questionnaire administered on a random sample of 264 international students. Data obtained on malaria treatment and factors influencing treatment behaviors were analyzed using IBM, SPSS Statistics version 22. Associations between individual characteristics and Malaria treatment seeking behavior was assessed by Pearson Chi-square(X2) test of independence. Binary logistic regression model was built using a backwards Wald approach, with variables retained at Wald p-value <0.05.

resultsThe findings show that 35% of the respondents obtained self-prescribed antimalarial at their utmost first choice of Malaria treatment. At bivariate level, a significant relationship between Malaria health-care seeking behaviour and:- Respondents continent, X2(1, N = 264) = 7.936, p = .005; Service accessibility, X2(1, N = 264) = 7.624, p = .006; Wait time, X2(1, N = 264) = 22.514, p <0.001; Treatment cost, X2(1, N = 264) = 97.160, p <0.001; Health insurance, X2(1, N = 264) = 5.837, p = 0.016, and Perceived staff attitude, X2(1, N = 264) = 18.557, p < 0.001. At multivariable analysis, inappropriate malaria health seeking behaviours was associated with low perceived service accessibility as (≥30mins) (aOR = 6.67; p<0.001), perceived long wait time (≥30mins), (aOR = 5.94; p = 0.015), perceived treatment cost affordability (<15 GHC) (aOR = 19.88; p<0.001) and age group: -34-41years (aOR = 8.83; p<0.001).

conclusionThere were widespread inappropriate health-care seeking behavior for Malaria treatment among international students. Improving accessibility to malaria treatment services, reducing wait time at health facilities and the treatment cost will address inappropriate malaria treatment health seeking behaviours among the international students.

Indexed as

MalariaCross-Sectional StudiesGhanaHealth Care CostsHumansPatient Acceptance of Health CareStudents

Identifiers

PMID37883486
PMCPMC10602253
OpenAlexW4387965493

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.