Treatment seeking behaviour of malaria patients in desert part of Rajasthan, India.

Malaria remains to be the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in India and in many other tropical countries with approximately 2 to 3 million new cases arising every year. In spite of arid conditions prevailing in desert part of Rajasthan, malaria is a major public health problem. A longitudinal study on social determinants of malaria has been undertaken in different villages of Ramgarh PHC of Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan. The study aims to know treatment seeking behabiour of malaria patients in the desert communities which is significantly different than the non-desert part of India. Out of 60 villages, 12 villages and 573 malaria patients were selected randomly. Interview technique was used for data collection. Information was recorded on pre-tested schedules. Self diagnosis 423 (73.8%) was more common among the respondents and 443 (77.3%) had taken treatment at home with local herbal remedies as the first treatment action. Desert population was not used to laboratory test for the malaria diagnosis. Symptoms based treatment was practised. They used private and government health facilities for the treatment of malaria. Self diagnosis for malaria was common but practised more by the poorer households. A large part of the population did not complete the full course of malaria treatment as a result drug resistance was more common. They did not use the government health facility as a first step of malaria treatment. There is need for health education with campaign emphasizing the role of mosquitoes in malaria transmission and the need for prompt medical intervention. The use of Government health services for the diagnosis and treatment of malaria by the poor should be encouraged through appropriate information, education and communication (IEC) which on the long run will be more cost effective for desert population under the national malaria control programme.