Knowledge and Attitude on Free Treatment of Severe Malaria in Children Less Than Five Years in the Bamenda Health District, Cameroon

CaHReF 2016, Yaoundé Conges hall, 23 – 26 August 2016 , PL184

Severe malaria is a life threatening medical emergency and requires prompt and effective treatment to prevent death. Since July 2014, the Cameroon Government implemented free treatment of severe malaria in children under five. There is paucity of information on the current state of implementation of such a policy in the country. 
Objective: To determine the state of implementation of free treatment of severe malaria in children under five in the Bamenda health district within the period of July 2014 to June 2015. 

A hospital base cross sectional descriptive study was conducted, using purposive sampling method to choose 22 health facilities in the District. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 22 consulting health personnel and 15 parents/guardians of under- fives from the 9th to the 22nd of October 2015 with a retrospective collection in consultation registers. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20.

All 22 interviewed health personnel had received training on the management of severe malaria and were informed and knowledgeable on policy. Only 36% (8/22) of the health facilities had a specific register for the follow up of severe malaria in under-fives. 36% (8/22) health facilities had shortage of artemether within July 2014 to June 2015. Artemether was the drug frequently used for first line treatment (96%).The proportion of under-five treated with artemether and quinine were 56% and 27% respectively. 13% (2/15) of the parents/guardians of under-five were informed on the free treatment policy. None of them had their child treated free during the data collection period. 
Free treatment of severe malaria in under-five has not been effectively implemented as stipulated by policy. An elaborate plan of following up its implementation in health facilities should be done, with a mass sensitization of the population on policy

Free treatment, Severe Malaria, children under-five years, Bamenda Health District.