Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38117782›Full record

ArticlePloS one2023

Delays in seeking treatment for fever in children under five years of age in Nigeria: Evidence from the National Demographic Health Survey.

Anayochukwu E Anyasodor, Kedir Y Ahmed, Uchechukwu L Osuagwu, Nnamdi C Mgbemena, Bernd H Kalinna, Subash Thapa, Shakeel Mahmood, Allen G Ross

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
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 8 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 15% 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

8 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 9 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

8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Anayochukwu E AnyasodorRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1928-7657
Kedir Y AhmedRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3797-5234
Uchechukwu L OsuagwuTranslational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Penrith, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1727-6914
Nnamdi C MgbemenaSchool of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.
Bernd H KalinnaRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0495-5579
Subash ThapaRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.
Shakeel MahmoodRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.
Allen G RossRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia.
Charles Sturt University · AUTranslational Research Institute · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn countries with high child mortality rates, such as Nigeria, early intervention for common childhood illnesses (e.g., pneumonia and malaria) is essential for improving clinical outcomes. The timely reporting and treatment of fever is therefore critical in making a differential diagnosis and choosing an appropriate course of treatment. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and major risk factors associated with delays in seeking treatment for fever in children under five years of age in Nigeria.

methodsThis study used a total weighted sample of 7,466 children under five years of age from the 2018 National Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey. Multivariable binary logistic regression modelling was used to investigate the association between predisposing, enabling, need, health service and community level factors, and delay in treatment-seeking for fever.

resultsWe report the delays in seeking treatment for childhood fever that was reported by mothers in the last two weeks prior to the national survey. The prevalence for delayed treatment was 62.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 60.1%, 64.1%). Our findings showed that there were fewer delays in seeking treatment in children aged 24-59 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.93), among mothers who were formally employed (aOR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.96), regularly attended antenatal services (aOR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.66, 0.88), and for those who resided in wealthier households (aOR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.89). Children whose mothers resided in the North-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria were less likely to delay seeking treatment for fever (aOR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.73). However, mothers who had an unwanted pregnancy had a higher odds of delaying treatment for childhood fever (aOR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.39).

conclusionThere were significant delays in seeking treatment for childhood fever in poorer homes found in geopolitically unstable zones of Nigeria. Mothers who were poor, unemployed, and with younger children (<12 months) often delayed seeking treatment for their febrile child. Future health promotion strategies and microenterprise schemes should target both rural and urban mothers residing in poor households. Children under 12 months of age should be a priority.

Indexed as

MothersPatient Acceptance of Health CareChildChild, PreschoolFamily CharacteristicsFemaleFeverHealth SurveysHumansInfantNigeriaPregnancy

Identifiers

PMID38117782
PMCPMC10732371
OpenAlexW4390037734

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.