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Health care switching behaviour of malaria patients in a Kenyan rural community

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  • Nyamongo, I. K.

Abstract

Patients ordinarily use multiple sources of health care. This study reveals the transitions patients in a rural region of Gusii, Kenya are likely to make beyond the homestead in their search for alternatives to combat malaria. Malaria is a very common health problem in the region resulting in enormous human and economic losses. Data on health care seeking behaviour were collected over a 10-month period. The primary data for this paper is from malaria-focused ethnographic interviews with 35 adults (18 women and 17 men). Results show that patients are more likely to start with self-treatment at home as they wait for a time during which they observe their progress. This allows them to minimise expenditure incurred as a result of the sickness. They are more likely to choose treatments available outside the home during subsequent decisions. The decisions include visiting a private health care practitioner, a government health centre or going to a hospital when the situation gets desperate. Knowledge and duration of sickness, the anticipated cost of treatment, and a patient's judgement of the intensity of sickness determine their choice of treatment.

Suggested Citation

  • Nyamongo, I. K., 2002. "Health care switching behaviour of malaria patients in a Kenyan rural community," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 377-386, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:54:y:2002:i:3:p:377-386
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    Cited by:

    1. Haenssgen, Marco J., 2018. "The struggle for digital inclusion: Phones, healthcare, and marginalisation in rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 358-374.
    2. Miller, Elizabeth M., 2011. "Maternal health and knowledge and infant health outcomes in the Ariaal people of northern Kenya," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(8), pages 1266-1274.
    3. Raushan, Rajesh & Mutharayappa, R., 2014. "Social disparity in child morbidity and curative care: Investigating for determining factors from rural India," Working Papers 314, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore.
    4. Kamat, Vinay R., 2006. ""I thought it was only ordinary fever!" cultural knowledge and the micropolitics of therapy seeking for childhood febrile illness in Tanzania," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(12), pages 2945-2959, June.
    5. Prateek Arora & Nirvikar Singh & Abhijit Visaria, 2023. "Healthcare Costs, Choice of Providers and Patient Satisfaction: Survey Evidence from India," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 21(3), pages 593-616, September.
    6. Thomas Porter & Jane Chuma & Catherine Molyneux, 2009. "Barriers to managing chronic illness among urban households in coastal Kenya," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(2), pages 271-290.
    7. Haenssgen, Marco J. & Charoenboon, Nutcha & Zanello, Giacomo, 2021. "You’ve got a friend in me: How social networks and mobile phones facilitate healthcare access among marginalised groups in rural Thailand and Lao PDR," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    8. John W Stanifer & Uptal D Patel & Francis Karia & Nathan Thielman & Venance Maro & Dionis Shimbi & Humphrey Kilaweh & Matayo Lazaro & Oliver Matemu & Justin Omolo & David Boyd & Comprehensive Kidney D, 2015. "The Determinants of Traditional Medicine Use in Northern Tanzania: A Mixed-Methods Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
    9. Friend-du Preez, Natalie & Cameron, Noël & Griffiths, Paula, 2013. "“So they believe that if the baby is sick you must give drugs…” The importance of medicines in health-seeking behaviour for childhood illnesses in urban South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 43-52.
    10. Masha F. Somi & James R. G. Butler & Farshid Vahid & Joseph D. Njau & Salim Abdulla, 2009. "Household responses to health risks and shocks: A study from rural Tanzania raises some methodological issues," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(2), pages 200-211.

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