Level, trends and factors associated with early seeking care for children under five with a fever in Guinea

Malaria remains the leading cause of morbidity in Guinea. To contain it, the National Malaria Control Programme, following the guidelines of the World Health Organisation, prioritises the mass distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, seasonal chemoprevention, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women and the proper management of all confirmed cases. The latest survey on malaria and anaemia indicators conducted in 2021 indicates a malaria prevalence of 17 % among children under five. Among these children who had a fever in the two weeks preceding the survey, only 32 % of cases were treated within 48 h in 2021, compared to 37 % in 2018. This represents a decline in the use of health care services, even though the prevalence of malaria remains high. In light of this observation, it is essential to identify the factors that explain this low use of health care and/or treatment for fever in children under five in Guinea. In this context, the data used comes from the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey and the 2021 Malaria and Anaemia Indicator Survey. Factors associated with early recourse to care for children with fever in Guinea are identified through descriptive and explanatory analyses. The results show that early recourse to care for children with fever is low and declining, while the prevalence of malaria infections has remained unchanged (17 %) since 2018. Indeed, early recourse to health care for children is low in rural areas, in poor households and in the regions of Boké, Kindia, Labé and Nzérékoré. Research into the factors associated with children suffering from fever seeking care early, particularly in endemic areas, could help to identify new strategies for eradicating malaria in Guinea. The impact of such research could be profound, saving countless lives and improving the health of the country's children.