The role of community health workers in improving child health programmes in Mali

Table 2 Household management of child illness (< 5 years) in the district of Djenné, Mali, Community health worker survey, April 2006 (n = 401).

Knowledge/practice of the caregiver regarding specific illnesses	Number	%	CI 95%
Management of fever *:
Chloroquine	149	37.0	32.4 -- 42.1
Paracetamol	42	11.0	7.7 -- 14.0
Chloroquine + Paracetamol	162	40.0	35.6 -- 45.4
other	48	12.0	9.0 -- 15.7
Treatment of diarrhoea* :
ORS ±	43	10.7	8.0 -- 14.3
SSS ±	5	1.2	0.5 -- 3.1
Oxytetracycline	111	27.7	23.4 -- 32.4
Other**	96	23.9	19.9 -- 28.5
Traditional**	96	23.9	19.9 -- 28.5
Other over counter drugs**	18	4.5	2.8 -- 7.1
Doing nothing	29	7.2	5.0 -- 10.3
Correct knowledge of dosage
Chloroquine	85	21.2	17.4 -- 25.6
Paracetamol	179	44.6	39.7 -- 49.7
Possession of « household kit »
Yes	47	11.8	8.9 -- 15.5
No	352	88.2	84.6 -- 91.2
Presence of drugs in the household
Chloroquine	73	18.2	14.6 -- 22.4
Paracetamol	42	10.5	7.7 -- 14.0
ORS	3	0.7	0.2 -- 2.4
Over counter drugs	18	4.5	2.8 -- 7.1
Presence/use of bed net
Presence	315	78.6	74.1 -- 82.4
Being used	216	57.8	52.8 -- 62.8
Impregnated	64	16.6	12.9 -- 20.3
Presence of iodized salt in the household
Iodized salt	376	98.7	96.8 -- 99.5

C.I. = confidence interval
± ORS = oral rehydration therapy; SSS = home-made salt/sugar solution
* Correct answer: for fever: chloroquine plus paracetamol, for diarrhoea SRO (26)
** Other: other drugs bought in the formal market, example: amoxiciline, drugs for a cold; traditional: beavers based on local plants; over the counter drugs: drugs acquired through the informal system.

ISSN: 1472-698X