Supply of Malaria Treatment in the Southeast Nigeria is Not Pro-Poor

Posted: 26 Jun 2007

See all articles by Eric Nwabuike Obikeze

Eric Nwabuike Obikeze

University of Nigeria - Pharmacology/Therapeutics - College of Medicine - Health Policy Research Group

Obinna Onwujekwe

University of Nigeria, Enugu-Campus

Benjamin Uzochukwu

University of Nigeria - Department of Management

Soludo B. Eze

University of Nigeria - Health Policy Research Group

Date Written: October 12, 2006

Abstract

Rationale: Malaria still ranks among the endemic diseases of the sub-Saharan Africa and a major cause of morbidity and mortality among the people, especially pregnant women and children. MDG for health demands that people get appropriate health care irrespective of their socioeconomic status. This study therefore looks at the supply of malaria treatment in the Southeast Nigeria in order to determine whether the poor are equitably considered in the health care services.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study involving two malaria endemic communities in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. Pre-tested exit poll questionnaires were used to collect data from 350 rural and 400 urban respondents randomly selected and interviewed as they were exiting the selected health facilities after treatment. Structured provider questionnaires were also administered to both the public and private providers of malaria treatment in the study communities. Socio-economic Status (SES) index was used to examine whether there were systematic differences in health-seeking variables across the SES groups. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to divided exit poll respondents into poorest, very poor, poor and the least poor.

Result: Result shows that malaria treatment provision is not pro poor in the study areas. This is evident when we consider their weekly food consumption and the amount they pay for an episode of malaria. An episode of malaria cost 627, 736, 927 and 1103 for the most poor, very poor, poor and least poor respectively while their weekly food consumption stand at 2198.74 and 1777.33 for rural and urban respondents respectively. This implies a proportional increase in the amount of expenses on treatment especially against the poor.

Conclusion: The study observed that there is socio-economic differentials in malaria treatment. The fact that socio-economic and geographic inequities in malaria treatment are tilted against the poorest and rural people requires interventions to correct the imbalances. Appropriate measures that will ensure that malaria treatment is pro-poor will be a necessary move towards achieving the MDG target for malaria.

Keywords: Malaria treatment, SES, Pro-poor

Suggested Citation

Obikeze, Eric Nwabuike and Onwujekwe, Obinna and Uzochukwu, Benjamin and Eze, Soludo B., Supply of Malaria Treatment in the Southeast Nigeria is Not Pro-Poor (October 12, 2006). iHEA 2007 6th World Congress: Explorations in Health Economics Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=993103

Eric Nwabuike Obikeze

University of Nigeria - Pharmacology/Therapeutics - College of Medicine - Health Policy Research Group ( email )

184 ogui Road Enugu
Department of Science Education, Chemistry option
Nsukka, DE Enugu State 410001
Nigeria

Obinna Onwujekwe

University of Nigeria, Enugu-Campus ( email )

University of Nigeria, Enugu-Campus
Department of Management
Nsukka, Enugu
Nigeria

Benjamin Uzochukwu (Contact Author)

University of Nigeria - Department of Management ( email )

University of Nigeria, Enugu-Campus
Department of Management
Nsukka, Enugu
Nigeria

Soludo B. Eze

University of Nigeria - Health Policy Research Group ( email )

College of Medicine
Enugu
Nigeria
+234 08052422711 (Phone)
+234 042 259569 (Fax)

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