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Treatment-Seeking for Convulsions in Preschool Children in Calabar, Nigeria

Received: 4 June 2014     Accepted: 24 June 2014     Published: 10 July 2014
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Abstract

Introduction: Convulsions are the commonest neurological emergencies in preschool children. The outcome of convulsions in this age group is determined by the cause and the treatment-seeking behavior of their caregivers. Objective: To determine the treatment-seeking behavior of caregivers of preschool children with a history of convulsion. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among caregivers of preschool children to identify those with a history of convulsion in the previous 12 months and the immediate treatment response by their caregivers. Results: Caregivers of 632 children were surveyed. Thirty five (5.5%) children had a history of convulsion. Nine caregivers (25.7%) took no action to stop the convulsion, 10 (28.6%) gave herbal concoctions, 12 (34.3%) used medicine available at home from previous illness, 3 (8.6%) tepid sponged the children while 1 (2.8%) gave local enema. Subsequent treatment was sought by 23 (65.7%) caregivers. Of this number, 13 (55.6%) sought care from traditional healers, 5 (21.7%) from primary health centers and the remaining 5 (21.7%)from hospitals. Cost, proximity and perceived quality of care were the main determinants of the choice of facility for subsequent care. Conclusion: Caregivers of preschool children were either passive or took potentially harmful actions in managing childhood convulsions at home. There is need for mass enlightenment programme on appropriate actions regarding childhood convulsion in rural communities.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 2, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.18
Page(s) 293-296
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Treatment-Seeking, Convulsion, Children, Caregivers

References
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[2] Sandeep BB, Raphul G, Sandhya J. Healthcare-seeking behavior after seizures in children.Indian J Med Sci2008; 62:331-335.
[3] Ezenwa NE, Aanuolowayomi OA. Factors influencing mother’s role in convulsion treatment among underfive children in Ibadan, Nigeria.World Health &Population 2009; 11.
[4] Kimati V. Cultural aspects of common childhood diseases. In: Diseases of Children in the Subtropics and Tropics.4thedn. Edited by Stanfield P, Brueton M, Chan M, Parkin M, Waterson T. London: Edward Arnold; 1991, 15-25.
[5] McCombie SC. Treatment seeking for malaria: a review and suggestions for future research.WHO 1994; 1-27.
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[7] Meremikwu MM, Asindi AA, Ezedinachi ENU.The pattern of neurological sequelae of childhood cerebral malaria among survivors in Calabar, Nigeria.Cen Afr Med J 1997; 43: 231-234.
[8] Joseph GO, Simon OE, Felix UA. The population situation in Cross River State Nigeria and its implication for socio-economic development: Observations from the 1991 and 2006 censuses.Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies. 2010:1(1): 36-42.
[9] Offringa, M, Alice A, Hazebroek-Kampschreur, Gerarda D. Prevalence of febrile seizures in Dutch school children.Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.1991:5(2); 181-8.
[10] Robert HA. Febrile Seizures. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics15thedn. Edited by Richard EB, Robert MK, Ann MA. Philadelphia:W.B.Saunders; 1996: 1691-29.
[11] Mboera LEG, Kamugisha ML, Barongo V. Community knowledge, perception and practice of malaria in Mpwapwa district, Central Tanzania. Tanzania Health Research Bulletin 2004, 6(2): 37 -39.
[12] World Bank 1998. World Development Indicators. Washington, DC: World Bank.
[13] Ofovwe GE, Ibadin OM, Ofovwe EC, Okolo AA.Home management of febrile convulsion in an African population: A comparison of urban and rural mother’s knowledge, attitude and practice. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2002; 20(1): 49-52.
[14] Meremikwu M, Oyo-ItaA. Physical methods for treating fever in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD004264. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004264.
[15] Brieger WR, Sesay HR, Adesina H. Urban malaria treatment behaviour in the context of low levels of transmission in Lagos, Nigeria.Afr J Med 2001; 30:7-1.
[16] Agu PA, Nwojiji O. Childhood malaria: Mothers’ perception and treatment-seeking behavior in a community in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria.Journal of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care. 2005; 17(1): 45-50.
[17] Yadav SP. A study of treatment seeking behavior of malaria and its management in febrile children in rural part of desert, Rajasthan, India. J Vector Borne 2010: 235-42.
[18] Uche MC, Benjamin ON, Agwu NA, Onyenonachi CS, Dozie IN, Aloy EI et al. Treatment seeking behaviour of mothers of febrile children in some rural parts of Imo State, Nigeria: Implications for home management of malaria in endemic areas.International Journal of Tropical Medicine 2009; 4(3): 132-5.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ekong Udoh, Komomo Eyong, Joseph Okebe, Uduak Okomo, Martin Meremikwu. (2014). Treatment-Seeking for Convulsions in Preschool Children in Calabar, Nigeria. Science Journal of Public Health, 2(4), 293-296. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.18

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    ACS Style

    Ekong Udoh; Komomo Eyong; Joseph Okebe; Uduak Okomo; Martin Meremikwu. Treatment-Seeking for Convulsions in Preschool Children in Calabar, Nigeria. Sci. J. Public Health 2014, 2(4), 293-296. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.18

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    AMA Style

    Ekong Udoh, Komomo Eyong, Joseph Okebe, Uduak Okomo, Martin Meremikwu. Treatment-Seeking for Convulsions in Preschool Children in Calabar, Nigeria. Sci J Public Health. 2014;2(4):293-296. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.18

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.18,
      author = {Ekong Udoh and Komomo Eyong and Joseph Okebe and Uduak Okomo and Martin Meremikwu},
      title = {Treatment-Seeking for Convulsions in Preschool Children in Calabar, Nigeria},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {293-296},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.18},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.18},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20140204.18},
      abstract = {Introduction: Convulsions are the commonest neurological emergencies in preschool children. The outcome of convulsions in this age group is determined by the cause and the treatment-seeking behavior of their caregivers. Objective: To determine the treatment-seeking behavior of caregivers of preschool children with a history of convulsion. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among caregivers of preschool children to identify those with a history of convulsion in the previous 12 months and the immediate treatment response by their caregivers. Results: Caregivers of 632 children were surveyed. Thirty five (5.5%) children had a history of convulsion. Nine caregivers (25.7%) took no action to stop the convulsion, 10 (28.6%) gave herbal concoctions, 12 (34.3%) used medicine available at home from previous illness, 3 (8.6%) tepid sponged the children while 1 (2.8%) gave local enema. Subsequent treatment was sought by 23 (65.7%) caregivers. Of this number, 13 (55.6%) sought care from traditional healers, 5 (21.7%) from primary health centers and the remaining 5 (21.7%)from hospitals. Cost, proximity and perceived quality of care were the main determinants of the choice of facility for subsequent care. Conclusion: Caregivers of preschool children were either passive or took potentially harmful actions in managing childhood convulsions at home. There is need for mass enlightenment programme on appropriate actions regarding childhood convulsion in rural communities.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Treatment-Seeking for Convulsions in Preschool Children in Calabar, Nigeria
    AU  - Ekong Udoh
    AU  - Komomo Eyong
    AU  - Joseph Okebe
    AU  - Uduak Okomo
    AU  - Martin Meremikwu
    Y1  - 2014/07/10
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.18
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.18
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 293
    EP  - 296
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140204.18
    AB  - Introduction: Convulsions are the commonest neurological emergencies in preschool children. The outcome of convulsions in this age group is determined by the cause and the treatment-seeking behavior of their caregivers. Objective: To determine the treatment-seeking behavior of caregivers of preschool children with a history of convulsion. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among caregivers of preschool children to identify those with a history of convulsion in the previous 12 months and the immediate treatment response by their caregivers. Results: Caregivers of 632 children were surveyed. Thirty five (5.5%) children had a history of convulsion. Nine caregivers (25.7%) took no action to stop the convulsion, 10 (28.6%) gave herbal concoctions, 12 (34.3%) used medicine available at home from previous illness, 3 (8.6%) tepid sponged the children while 1 (2.8%) gave local enema. Subsequent treatment was sought by 23 (65.7%) caregivers. Of this number, 13 (55.6%) sought care from traditional healers, 5 (21.7%) from primary health centers and the remaining 5 (21.7%)from hospitals. Cost, proximity and perceived quality of care were the main determinants of the choice of facility for subsequent care. Conclusion: Caregivers of preschool children were either passive or took potentially harmful actions in managing childhood convulsions at home. There is need for mass enlightenment programme on appropriate actions regarding childhood convulsion in rural communities.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Paediatrics, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital,Uyo, Nigeria

  • Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, PMB 1278, Calabar, Nigeria

  • Medical Research Council (UK) Fajara, P.O.Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia

  • Medical Research Council (UK) Fajara, P.O.Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia

  • Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, PMB 1278, Calabar, Nigeria

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