Knowledge and perspectives in management of common childhood illnesses by caregivers to under-five children in southwestern nigeria: synopsis of self-medication practices

Figures & data

Table 1. Socio-demographic Characteristics of the under-five caregivers

Caregiver of Under-five	Location
	Lagos (636)		Osun (332)
	Rural (221)	Urban (415)	Rural (228)	Urban (104)
Characteristics	Freq. (%)	Freq. (%)	Freq. (%)	Freq. (%)
Age group
10–19	22 (9.95)	31 (7.47)	6 (2.63)	10 (9.62)
20–29	26 (11.76)	108 (26.02)	70 (30.70)	22 (21.15)
30–39	94 (42.53)	218 (52.53)	74 (32.46)	64 (61.54)
40–49	40 (18.10)	29 (6.99)	50 (21.93)	4 (3.85)
50–59	23 (10.41)	15 (3.61)	4 (1.75)	-
60–69	16 (7.24)	14 (3.37)	24 (10.53)	4 (3.85)
Gender
Male	73 (33.03)	90 (21.69)	104 (45.61)	16 (15.38)
Female	148 (66.97)	325 (78.31)	124 (54.39)	88 (84.62)
Marital Status
Unmarried	37 (16.74)	62 (14.94)	4 (1.75)	8 (7.69)
Married	146 (66.06)	327 (78.80)	194 (85.09)	92 (88.46)
Widowed	32 (14.48)	15 (3.61)	30 (13.16)	-
Separated	6 (2.71)	11 (2.65)	-	4 (3.85)
Occupation
Civil servant	-	98 (23.61)	-	28 (26.92)
Artisan	39 (17.65)	85 (20.48)	52 (22.81)	22 (21.15)
Trader	56 (25.34)	114 (27.47)	26 (11.40)	34 (32.69)
Housewife	9 (4.07)	15 (3.61)	28 (12.28)	4 (3.85)
Farmer	59 (26.70)	24 (5.78)	54 (23.68)	8 (7.69)
Self employed	30 (13.57)	39 (9.40)	64 (28.07)	8 (7.69)
Others	16 (7.24)	40 (9.64)	4 (1.75)	-
Relationship of caregiver to U-5 children
Biological mother	87 (39.37)	227 (66.75)	104 (45.61)	78 (75.00)
Biological father	67 (30.32)	53 (12.77)	92 (40.35)	14 (13.46)
Foster mother	6 (2.71)	4 (0.96)	2 (0.88)	-
Foster father	-	4 (0.96)	-	-
Housemaid	-	-	-	2 (1.96)
Grandmother	39 (17.65)	9 (2.17)	28 (12.28)	-
Sibling	22 (9.95)	39 (9.40)	2 (0.88)	2 (1.96)
Neighbor	-	19 (4.58)	-	4 (3.85)
Others	-	10 (2.41)	-	4 (3.85)
Religion
Christianity	132 (59.73)	152 (36.63)	112 (49.12)	56 (53.85)
Islam	64 (28.96)	257 (61.93)	88 (38.60)	48 (46.15)
Traditional	25 (11.31)	6 (1.45)	28 (12.28)	-
Level of education
No formal education	35 (15.84)	23 (5.54)	48 (21.05)	4 (3.85)
Primary school	33 (14.93)	53 (12.77)	56 (24.56)	24 (23.08)
Secondary school	119 (53.85)	187 (45.06)	120 ()52.63	44 (42.31)
Polytechnic	28 (12.67)	94 (22.65)	4 (1.75)	20 (19.23)
Graduate degree	6 (2.71)	36 (8.67)	-	8 (7.69)
Post graduate	-	22 (5.30)	-	4 (3.85)
Family income in Naira
1.000–20,000	70 (31.67)	145 (34.94)	124 (54.39)	56 (53.85)
21,000–40,000	77 (34.84)	161 (38.80)	88 (38.60)	32 (30.77)
41,000–60,000	36 (16.29)	74 (17.83)	12 (5.26)	12 (11.54)
61,000–80,000	17 (7.69)	4 (0.96)	4 (1.75)	-
81,000+	21 (9.50)	31 (7.47)	-	4 (3.85)
Family size
<3	22 (9.95)	105 (25.30)	16 (7.02)	28 (26.92)
4–6	160 (72.40)	275 (66.27)	184 (80.70)	68 (65.38)
7+	39 (17.65)	35 (8.43)	28 (12.28)	8 (7.69)

Table 2. Caregivers’ knowledge and perceived management on Malaria illnesses

The baby is likely to be having:	Frequency	Percentage
Pneumonia	12	1.24
Measles	296	30.6
Malaria	617	63.7
Ear infection	7	0.7
Gastro-enteritis	3	0.3
Don’t know	33	3.4
Classes of products used for under-five children upon noticing the above symptoms of Malaria
What type of medication do you give your child(ren) immediately you noticed the above symptoms of malaria.	Frequency	Percentage
Herbal concoctions	215	22.2
Over-the-counter drugs	138	14.3
Drugs prescribed by doctors	315	32.5
Drugs from faith-based healing homes	14	1.5
Any medicine available	283	29.2
Others	3	0.3
Possible causes of malaria symptoms
What do you think are the causes of the symptoms of malaria?	Frequency	Percentage
Poor hygiene	190	19.6
Malnutrition	56	5.8
Infection by parasites	162	16.7
Natural cause-weather	324	33.5
Staying in the sun	193	19.9
Don’t know	11	1.1
Others	32	3.3
Means of managing the symptoms of malaria
How do you manage these symptoms of Malaria?	Frequency	Percentage
Use home-made solution	184	19.0
Consult neighbours	11	1.1
Go to parents	54	5.6
Go to chemist shop	191	19.7
Go to pharmacy	200	20.7
From faith-based healing homes	55	5.7
Go to traditional healers	154	15.9
Use left over from previous illness	113	11.7
No idea	6	0.6
Influencers of decision making in self-medication to the symptoms of malaria
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of malaria?	Frequency	Percentage
Experience from past illnesses	147	15.2
Severity of symptoms by the child(ren)	36	3.7
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of malaria?	Frequency	Percentage
Accessibility to healthcare facility	77	7.9
Cheap cost of self-medication	272	28.1
Beaurecractic process in health facility	53	5.5
Beliefs in traditional medicine	374	38.6
Others	9	0.9

Table 3. Caregivers’ knowledge and perceived management of Otitis Media

The baby is likely to be having:	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Pneumonia	3	0.3
Ear infection(Otitis media)	644	66.5
Malaria	62	6.4
Measles	79	8.2
Mumps	22	2.3
Don’t know	158	16.3
Classes of products used for under-five children upon noticing the above symptoms of Ear infection (Otitis media)
What type of medication do you give your child(ren) immediately you noticed the above symptoms of ear infection	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Herbal concoctions	87	8.9
Over-the-counter drugs	164	16.9
Drugs prescribed by doctors	420	43.4
Any available medicine	226	23.4
Don’t know	68	7.0
Others	3	0.3
Possible causes of ear infection (otitis media) symptoms
What do you think are the causes of the symptoms of ear infection?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Poor hygiene	66	6.8
Malnutrition	14	1.5
Infection by parasites	593	61.3
Natural cause-weather	14	1.5
Staying in the sun	34	3.5
Don’t know	93	9.6
Others	11	1.1
Table 5.19: Means of managing the symptoms of ear infection (otitis media)
How do you manage these symptoms of Ear infection?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Use home-made solution	227	23.5
Consult neighbours	5	0.5
Go to parents	49	5.1
Go to chemist shop	157	16.2
Go to pharmacy	364	37.6
From faith-based healing homes	13	1.3
Go to traditional healers	24	2.5
Use left over from previous illness	70	7.2
No idea	59	6.1
Table 5.20: Influencers of decision making in self-medication to the symptoms of ear infection
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of ear infection?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Experience from past illnesses	141	14.6
Severity of symptoms by the child(ren)	47	4.9
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of ear infection?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Accessibility to healthcare facility	99	10.2
Cheap cost of self-medication	328	33.9
Beaurecractic process in health facility	107	11.1
Beliefs in traditional medicine	178	18.4
Don’t know	68	7.0

Table 4. Caregiver’s knowledge and perceived management of Gastro-Enteritis

The baby is likely to be having:	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Gastro-enteritis	607	62.7
Food allergies	172	17.8
Pneumonia	12	1.2
Malaria	92	9.5
Malnutrition	3	0.3
Don’t know	82	8.5
Table 5.24 Classes of products used for under-five children upon noticing the above symptoms of gastro-enteritis (vomiting and diarrhoea)
What type of medication do you give your child(ren) immediately you noticed the above symptoms of gastro-enteritis?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Herbal concoctions	92	9.5
Over-the-counter drugs	171	17.7
Drugs prescribed by doctors	352	36.4
Any available medicine	308	31.8
Don’t know	28	2.9
Others	7	0.7
Table 5.25: Possible causes of gastro-enteritis symptoms
What do you think are the causes of the gastro-enteritis?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Poor hygiene	342	35.3
Malnutrition	134	13.8
Infection by parasites	269	27.8
Natural cause-weather	106	10.9
Staying in the sun	26	2.7
Don’t know	65	6.7
Others	12	1.2
Table 5.26: Means of managing gastro-enteritis
How do you manage these symptoms of gastro-enteritis?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Use home-made solution	217	22.4
Go to parents	20	2.1
Go to chemist shop	209	21.6
Go to pharmacy shop	300	30.9
From faith-based healing homes	21	2.2
Go to traditional healers	67	6.9
Use left over from previous illness	87	8.9
No idea	59	6.1
Don’t know	24	2.5
Table 5.27: Influencers of decision making in self-medication to the symptoms of gastro-enteritis.
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of gastro-enteritis?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Experience from past illnesses	79	8.2
Severity of symptoms by the child(ren)	71	7.3
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of gastro-enteritis?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Accessibility to healthcare facility	117	12.1
Cheap cost of self-medication	416	42.9
Bureaucratic process in health facility	135	13.9
Beliefs in traditional medicine	119	12.3
Don’t know	28	2.9
Others	3	0.3

Table 5. Caregivers’ knowledge and perceived management of Measles

The baby is likely to be having:	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Measles	703	72.6
Malaria	113	11.7
Skin rashes	97	10.0
Pneumonia	8	0.8
Don’t know	47	4.9
Classes of products used for under-five children upon noticing the above symptoms of measles
What type of medication do you give your child(ren) immediately you noticed the above symptoms of measles?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Herbal concoctions	343	35.4
Over-the-counter drugs	73	7.5
Drugs prescribed by doctors	139	14.4
Drugs from faith-based healing homes	16	1.7
Any medicine available	375	38.7
Don’t know	19	1.9
Others	3	0.3
Possible causes of Measles symptoms
What do you think are the causes of measles?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Poor hygiene	73	7.5
Malnutrition	51	5.3
Infection by parasites	227	23.5
Natural cause-weather	444	45.9
Staying in the sun	127	13.1
Don’t know	43	4.4
Others	3	0.3
Means of managing measles illness
How do you manage these symptoms of measles?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Use home-made solution	144	14.8
Consult neighbours	24	2.5
Go to parents	24	3.5
Go to chemist shop	98	10.1
Go to pharmacy shop	191	19.7
From faith-based healing homes	4	0.4
Go to traditional healers	250	25.8
Use left over from previous illnesses	203	20.9
No idea	6	0.6
Don’t know	14	1.5
Influencers of decision making in self-medication to the symptoms of measles.
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of measles?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Experience from past illnesses	48	4.9
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of measles?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Severity of symptoms by the child(ren)	71	7.3
Accessibility to healthcare facility	40	4.1
Cheap cost of self-medication	421	43.5
Beaurecractic process in health facility	49	5.1
Beliefs in traditional medicine	317	32.8
Don’t know	19	1.9
Others	3	0.3

Table 6. Caregivers’ knowledge and perceived management of Mumps

The baby is likely to be having:	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Mumps	503	51.9
Malaria	277	28.6
Measles	106	10.9
Hunger	82	8.5
Don’t know	47	4.9
Classes of products used for under-five children upon noticing the above symptoms of mumps
What type of medication do you give your child(ren) immediately you noticed the above symptoms of mumps?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Herbal concoctions	210	21.7
Over-the-counter drugs	158	16.3
Drugs prescribed by doctors	187	19.3
Any medicine available	387	40.0
Don’t know	23	2.4
Others	3	0.3
Table 5.36 Classes of products used for under-five children upon noticing the above symptoms of mumps
What type of medication do you give your child(ren) immediately you noticed the above symptoms of mumps?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Herbal concoctions	210	21.7
Over-the-counter drugs	158	16.3
Drugs prescribed by doctors	187	19.3
Any medicine available	387	40.0
Don’t know	23	2.4
Others	3	0.3
Possible causes of Mumps
What do you think are the causes of Mumps?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Poor hygiene	73	7.5
Malnutrition	51	5.3
Infection by parasites	227	23.5
Natural cause-weather	444	45.9
Staying in the sun	127	13.1
Don’t know	43	4.4
Others	3	0.3
Means of managing mumps
How do you manage these symptoms of Mumps?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Use home-made solution	153	15.8
Consult neighbours	26	2.7
Go to parents	54	5.6
Go to chemist shop	188	19.4
Go to pharmacy shop	129	13.3
Go to traditional healers	237	24.5
How do you manage these symptoms of Mumps?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Use left over from previous illnesses	152	15.7
No idea	17	1.8
Don’t know	12	1.2
Influencers of decision making in self-medication to the symptoms of mumps.
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of mumps?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Experience from past illnesses	62	6.4
Severity of symptoms by the child(ren)	59	6.1
Accessibility to healthcare facility	80	8.3
Cheap cost of self-medication	365	37.7
Beaurecractic process in health facility	123	12.7
Beliefs in traditional medicine	256	26.5
Don’t know	23	2.4

Table 7. Caregivers’ knowledge and perceived management of Acute Respiratory Infection

The baby is likely to be having:	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Mumps	7	0.7
Acute respiratory tract infection	917	94.7
Don’t know	44	2.6
Classes of products used for under-five children upon noticing the above symptoms of respiratory tract infection.
What type of medication do you give your child(ren) immediately you noticed the above symptoms of respiratory tract infection?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Herbal concoctions	60	6.2
Over-the-counter drugs	168	17.4
Drugs prescribed by doctors	340	35.1
Drugs from faith-based healing homes	6	0.6
Any medicine available	368	38.0
Don’t know	23	2.4
Others	3	0.3
Possible causes of acute respiratory infection
What do you think are the causes of acute respiratory infection?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Poor hygiene	157	16.2
Malnutrition	30	3.1
Infection by parasites	327	33.8
Natural cause-weather	347	35.9
Staying in the sun	64	6.6
Don’t know	43	4.4
Means of managing acute respiratory infection
How do you manage these symptoms of respiratory infection?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Use home-made solution	84	8.7
Go to parents	20	2.1
Go to chemist shop	253	26.1
Go to pharmacy shop	203	20.9
From faith-based healing homes	23	2.4
Go to traditional healers	184	19.0
Use of left over from previous illnesses	169	17.5
No idea	26	2.7
Don’t know	6	0.6
Influencers of decision making in self-medication to the symptoms of respiratory tract infection.
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of respiratory tract infection?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Experience from past illnesses	33	3.4
Severity of symptoms by the child(ren)	44	4.5
Accessibility to healthcare facility	63	6.5
Cheap cost of self-medication	472	48.8
Beaurecractic process in health facility	28	2.9
Beliefs in traditional medicine	301	31.1
Don’t know	27	2.8

Table 8. Caregivers’ knowledge and perceived management of Febrile Convulsion

The baby is likely to be having:	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Malaria	68	7.0
Measles	241	24.9
Febrile convulsion	618	63.8
Don’t know	41	4.2
Classes of products used for under-five children upon noticing the above symptoms of febrile convulsion.
What type of medication do you give your child(ren) immediately you noticed the above symptoms of febrile convulsion?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Herbal concoctions	208	21.5
Over-the-counter drugs	82	8.5
Drugs prescribed by doctors	334	35.0
Drugs from faith-based healing homes	6	0.6
Any medicine available	317	32.8
Don’t know	18	1.9
Others	3	0.3
Possible causes of febrile convulsion
What do you think are the causes of febrile convulsion?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Poor hygiene	74	7.6
Malnutrition	158	16.3
Infection by parasites	151	15.6
Natural cause-weather	486	50.21
Staying in the sun	53	5.5
Don’t know	37	3.8
Others	9	0.9
Means of managing febrile convulsion
How do you manage these symptoms of febrile convulsion?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Use home-made solution	124	12.8
Go to neighbours	10	1.0
Go to parents	14	1.5
Go to chemist shop	181	18.7
Go to pharmacy shop	258	26.7
From faith-based healing homes	27	2.8
Go to traditional healers	105	10.9
Use left over from previous illnesses	235	24.3
No idea	14	1.5
Influencers of decision making in self-medication to the symptoms of febrile convulsion.
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of febrile convulsion?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Experience from past illnesses	88	9.1
Severity of symptoms by the child(ren)	44	4.6
What influence your decision making self-medication to these symptoms of febrile convulsion?	Frequency Distribution	Percentages
Accessibility to healthcare facility	74	7.6
Cheap cost of self-medication	421	43.5
Beaurecractic process in health facility	48	5.0
Beliefs in traditional medicine	276	28.5
Don’t know	14	1.5
Others	3	0.3