Treatment Seeking Behavior and Associated Factors Among Malaria Suspected Patients in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia: Institution-Based Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Seeking the treatment within twenty four hours from the first symptom and effective treatment are important for controlling the transmission of malaria. But there is no study done on treatment seeking behavior of malaria patients. Thus, this study aimed to assess treatment seeking behavior and associated factors among malaria suspected patients in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed among three hundred eleven malaria suspected patients in malaria endemic public health institutions of Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia in March, 2014. Proportionally allocated sample size was collected consecutively until the required sample size fulfilled from eleven health institutions providing microscopic diagnostic test for malaria patients. The data were analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics, binary and multiple logistic regressions were employed to identify those factors that determined treatment seeking behavior. Result: From the total respondents (297) fully responded to the survey 87.8% (260) of them did not seek treatment within the recommended first 24 hours from onset of illness. 15.2% (45) of the patients sought treatment from non-medical center before coming to the health institution. Perceived susceptibility for malaria and having knowledge of mosquito nets as means of mosquito bite prevention were independently associated with treatment seeking behavior. Those respondents who had low perceived susceptibility of malaria diseases sought 0.24 times less likely when compared with those respondents who perceived malaria as a deadly disease (AOR= 0.24; CI 95%: 0.07-0.85) Conclusion: Majority of the respondents did not seek treatment for the disease within the right time, which is from the first onset of symptoms. Perceived susceptibility for malaria disease was the best predictor for the respondents to sought treatment early. On the other hand delayed in seeking treatment behavior is alarming to health institution, district health office and health extension workers as this will enhance malaria transmission. Thus, malaria prevention and control program should focus these identified factors.