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Journal articles
Use of health care among febrile children from urban poor households in Senegal: does the neighbourhood have an impact?
Abstract : Urban malaria is considered a major public health problem in Africa. The
malaria vector is well adapted in urban settings and autochthonous malaria has
increased. Antimalarial treatments prescribed presumptively or after rapid
diagnostic tests are also highly used in urban settings. Furthermore, health
care strategies for urban malaria must comply with heterogeneous neighbourhood
ecosystems where health-related risks and opportunities are spatially
varied. This article aims to assess the capacity of the urban living environment to
mitigate or increase individual or household vulnerabilities that influence the
use of health services. The data are drawn from a survey on urban malaria
conducted between 2008 and 2009. The study sample was selected using a twostage
randomized sampling. The questionnaire survey covered 2952 households
that reported a case of fever episode in children below 10 years during the
month before the survey.
Self-medication is a widespread practice for children, particularly among the
poorest households in Dakar. For rich households, self-medication for children is
more a transitional practice enabling families to avoid opportunity costs related to
visits to health facilities. For the poorest, it is a forced choice and often the only
treatment option. However, the poor that live in well-equipped neighbourhoods
inhabited by wealthy residents tend to behave as their rich neighbours. They grasp
the opportunities provided by the area and adjust their behaviours accordingly.
Though health care for children is strongly influenced by household socio-economic
characteristics, neighbourhood resources (facilities and social networks) will
promote health care among the poorest and reduce access inequalities. Without
being a key factor, the neighbourhood of residence—when it provides resources—
may be of some help to overcome the financial hurdle. Findings suggest that the
neighbourhood (local setting) is a relevant scale for health programmes in African
cities.
keyword :
Poverty
https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01413418
Contributor : Cerdi Etudes & Documents - Publications <>
Submitted on : Friday, December 9, 2016 - 5:19:49 PM
Last modification on : Wednesday, October 14, 2020 - 3:49:52 AM
Contributor : Cerdi Etudes & Documents - Publications <>
Submitted on : Friday, December 9, 2016 - 5:19:49 PM
Last modification on : Wednesday, October 14, 2020 - 3:49:52 AM