Background: Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Sudan. The entire population is at risk of contracting malaria to different levels. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of communication for behavioural impact (COMBI) strategy in enhancing the utilization of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) among mothers of under-five children in rural areas.
Methods: A randomized community trial was conducted in rural area of Kosti locality, White Nile State, Sudan, among mothers of under-five children, from January 2013 to February 2014. A total of 761 mothers from 12 villages were randomly selected, 412 mothers from intervention villages and 349 were from comparison villages.
Results: The knowledge of mothers, in intervention villages, about malaria vector, personal protective measures (PPM) against malaria, and efficacy of LLINs was significantly increased from 86.9 to 97.3 %; 45.9 to 92 % and 77.7 to 96.1 % respectively. Knowledge about usefulness of PPM, types of mosquito nets and efficacy of LLINs was significantly higher in intervention villages compared to comparison villages (p < 0.05), (η = 0.64). Mothers in intervention villages increasingly perceived, post-intervention, that malaria was a serious disease (99.3 %), a preventable disease (98.8 %) and also LLINs as an effective intervention in malaria prevention (92.2 %). This resulted in an increase in the utilization rate of LLINs from 19.2 to 82.8 % in intervention villages compared to comparison villages (p < 0.05) [OR = 4.6, 95 %, CI = (3.72-5.72)], (η = 0.64). The average of mothers' knowledge about malaria was increased by 64 % (η = 0.64), the use of LLINs was increased by 79 % (η = 0.79) and a positive attitude towards malaria was 2.25 times higher in intervention villages than among mothers in the comparison villages.
Conclusions: These results established the usefulness of COMBI strategy for increasing awareness about malaria, developing a positive perception towards malaria prevention and, increasing the utilization of LLINs.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12936-016-1551-8 | DOI Listing |
Background: Despite the significant public health burden of maternal mental health disorders in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), limited data are available on their effects on early childhood development (ECD), nutritional status, and child health in the region.
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Method: As part of the Innovative Partnership for Universal and Sustainable Healthcare (i-PUSH) program evaluation study, initiated in November 2019, a cohort of low-income rural families, including pregnant women or women of childbearing age with children under five, was recruited for this study.
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Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
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View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Glob Health
January 2025
Rural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Background: Identifying the modifiable risk factors for childhood mortality using population-attributable fractions (PAFs) estimates can inform public health planning and resource allocation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We estimated PAFs for key population-level modifiable risk factors of neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality in LMICs.
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BMC Pediatr
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Department of Statistics, Debre Berhan University, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia.
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View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Public Health
January 2025
College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, P.O. Box, 21, Arba Minch City, Ethiopia.
Background: Approximately 70% of child deaths due to diarrhea are caused by a lack of timely healthcare. However, there was little evidence of factors associated with delays in seeking health care for patients with diarrheal diseases in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate delays in seeking healthcare for children with diarrhea and identify associated factors among caregivers in health centers of Northwest Ethiopia.
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