Description
Abstract
Introduction and Objective: Despite availability of effective interventions, malaria and diarrhoea remain a public health concern in Nigeria. Informal healthcare providers’(IHPs) account for a significant proportion of health providers providing services for the treatment of communicable diseases especially in urban slums. However, IHPs may pose a challenge to service quality if allowed to provide services without the requisite knowledge and competencies. This study aims to assess informal health providers’ knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of malaria and diarrhoea in urban slums.
Methodology: The quantitative study was conducted in 8 urban slums in Anambra and Enugu states in southeast Nigeria. Data was collected from 238 informal providers made up of bonesetters, patent medicine vendors (PMVs), traditional birth attendants (TBAs), traditional herbal medicine dealers and traditional healers, using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Knowledge were summarised as composite scores and two categories (adequate and inadequate knowledge) generated. The scores were added up to create knowledge ranking for the aforementioned categories. The pooled scores of questions were classified into inadequate and adequate knowledge using median (50%) score values.
Results and Discussions: Our findings are consistent with the evidence from other studies that informal health providers are a crucial source of healthcare for urban poor populations. Diagnosis of malaria or diarrhoea were by recognition of symptoms. Knowledge of treatment of communicable diseases (Malaria and Diarrhoea) were generally inadequate among the different informal health providers, however PMVS and TBAs showed higher knowledge of treatment of Malaria. Training on the job and status in the facility were associated with adequate knowledge of treatment of malaria and Diarrhoea.
Conclusion: Informal health providers knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of malaria and diarrhoea is inadequate. Strengthening service delivery through appropriate training for the different types of informal health providers has the potential to improve health service delivery in urban slums. Institutionalizing this intervention is one strategy to link formal and informal health care systems to ensure quality service delivery for the achievement of SDG3(good health and well-being) and SDG4 (quality education). Providing quality education will in turn lead to improved quality of service delivery.
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