Children and medicines: self-treatment of common illnesses among Luo schoolchildren in western Kenya.

摘要: Abstract In a rural area of western Kenya, primary schoolchildren's health seeking behaviour in response to common illnesses was investigated. 57 schoolchildren (age 11–17 years, median 13 years) were interviewed weekly about their status and activities for 30 weeks. The children each experienced on average 25 illness episodes during this period. Most could be categorised into 4 groups: ‘cold’, ‘headache’, ‘abdominal complaints’ ‘injuries’. One fifth (21%) the serious enough keep from school. 28% them, an adult consulted, while 72% not reported caretaker. Of without involvement, 81% remained untreated, 19% treated by themselves with either herbal or Western medicines. all medicines taken children, two thirds provided facilitated adults (assisted treatment) one third involvement (self-treatment). Among boys, proportion illnesses, which self-treated increased age 12% youngest group ( 14 years). girls, consistently lower than among boys constant around 9% groups. pharmaceuticals used self-treatment 44% 63% oldest (average 52% pharmaceuticals). Again, there differences between girls: group, twice as likely use girls (62 versus 32% self-treatments, respectively) they nearly three times more (75 25%, respectively). These practices choice may reflect higher income potential who can earn money fishing. Pharmaceuticals generally preferred treatment headache fevers, colds, remedies abdominal complaints wounds. most commonly antimalarials (mainly chloroquine), painkillers antipyretics aspirin paracetamol), stocked small shops village at low prices readily sold children. Throughout school Kenyan are growing pluralistic medical practice, integrating local system, gradually become autonomous agents care.