Care – Seeking Practices of Malaria Among Urban Residents of Awoshie

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out among urban residents at Awoshie, a suburb of Accra, with the aim of investigating their care practices in malaria. It was also to ascertain the extent to which residents exhibited plural medical behaviour in treating malaria. A KAP survey approach was used to collate responses from 250 respondents. Findings from the research suggest that residents are aware of the causes and symptoms of malaria being bites from the female anopheles mosquito and headaches, chills, coughs, sore throats and high body temperature among others respectively. Some residents persisted with the notion that malaria is a spiritual disease. Treatment options obtained were sourced from orthodox medicine, mainly the Artemisinin – based Combination Therapies (ACTs), herbal remedies from various outlets such as the drug store, chemical sellers’ shop and pharmacies. Residents exhibit a large propensity of plural medical behaviour towards the treatment of malaria, based on an analysis using Good’s (1987) Four A’s. Other factors influencing health seeking behaviour were discussed in consonance with Andersen and Newman’s (Undated) framework of Health Care Utilization Model.