Pediatric Malaria: Determinants of delay in seeking treatment for malaria in children under five years

Abstract

Malaria is a common illness but at the same time preventable illness that possess a challenge to healthcare structures in different parts of the world. The disease is caused by a parasite that infects the anopheles mosquito. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, malaria causes at least 229 million clinical episodes and 409,000 deaths (CDC, 2021). Further, the most vulnerable population in terms of morbidity and mortality rates comprise children who are below the age of 5 (WHO, 2018). According to the World Health Organization (2018), more than 285,000 children died before their fifth-year birthdays. Furthermore, UNICEF (2020) indicates that there were 228 million reported cases of malaria infection in 2018. The prevalence of malaria is high in most areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. Climatic conditions in most of these regions support the lives of Anopheles gambiae which is the mosquito that is responsible for high rates of transmission. Datoo et al. (2021) indicate that the increasing danger of the aforementioned disease has attracted interest for developing a vaccine by the year 2030. Ken-ya is one of the countries that has been significantly affected by the prevalence of malaria. The disease is not only affecting individuals but also exerting a considerable economic burden on the country. Efforts of public and private parties in controlling the prevalence of the disease are commendable. However, these efforts are affected by delays when it comes to seeking treatment. This study seeks to explore the determinants of delay in seeking treatment for malaria in children who are under five years old. The study takes a qualitative approach and examines recent scholarly literature sources. The researcher believes that insights from the study will be necessary for nursing practice especially in fostering holistic and optimal care