Health Seeking Behavior and Child Health Outcome: Malaria Treatment and Preventive Behavior in Kenya and Zimbabwe

Tom O. Owuor, Pennsylvania State University
William Sambisa, Pennsylvania State University
Peter Moyi, Pennsylvania State University

Studies have shown that there are differentials in preventive and curative strategies for child health outcomes. In sub-Saharan Africa children under five are more vulnerable to malaria caused by plasmodium falciparum, which has also been one of the leading causes of death among this group. Prior preventive strategies done by governments and non-governmental organization were mostly environmentally unfriendly, unsustainable and beyond the reach of most households. Of late, household prevention mechanisms and treatment have been promoted. However, there are scant studies of these household based preventative and curative strategies and the associated risk of contracting malaria moreso in developing countries. Using the Kenyan and Zimbabwean 2003 DHS we seek to examine: first, What relationship exist between use of mosquito nets and risk of developing a fever among children underfive? Second, what are the differences in curative health seeking behavior among women are for their children that develop malaria/fever?