Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Dr. Simone Salandy

Abstract

Children in early childhood are still suffering from burdens of malaria-related morbidity and mortality. There have been insufficient studies on how family-level factors may predict the prevalence of malaria (PoM), and negatively impact the control of malaria in rural areas, especially among children. In this study, potential family factors were explored to address the challenges associated with the increase in PoM among the children in rural areas of Nsukka. Socioecological framework guided this study at the interpersonal level. The quantitative cross-sectional study used secondary data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 2015 in Nsukka rural communities. Data were analyzed using chi-square analysis and multinomial logistic regression. The result showed a statistically significant relationship (P<0.05) between the age group susceptibility among children. There were statistically significant relationships between the family’s ownership of land for agricultural use, the family’s choice of a treatment facility and socioeconomic status. The couple’s extent of effective communication and whether the children in early childhood slept under the mosquito net showed statistically significant results. Positive social change implications depicted organizational level benefit that may help UNICEF and WHO by recruiting representatives in the distribution of preventive, control and treatment of malaria to the rural areas. Empowerment of women in the household to attend to their children during an emergency and standard housing policy initiative such as Family in Children (FIC) address both individual and societal levels, respectively.

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