The impact of ill health on household poverty in Uganda; a case of malaria among children below five years

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of ill-health on household poverty in Uganda with a focus on malaria among children below the age of five years. Its specific objectives were to find out the influence of expenditure on treatment of malaria and expenditure on medicines and transport on household poverty. It also intended to find out the influence of admission due to malaria on poverty, the effect of loss of working days due to malaria, borrowing for healthcare and selling of household assets on household poverty in Uganda, a low income country in East Africa. The study was based on data collected under the 2009 Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey. This survey covered4,080 children below the age of five and 4,250 households. Women aged 15 – 49 were the primary respondents. Principal component analysis was used to generate a composite poverty index and results were presented in quintiles and later into two groups; the poor and the rich. Bivariate analysis was done using the chi square while multivariate analysis was done with binary logistic regression.Result show that in both rural and urban areas ill-health due to malaria is a major challenge. Results show that in rural areas, 78.9 percent and 39.3 percent among poor and well-off household respectively had a child who suffered from malaria two weeks prior to the survey. In Uganda, the likelihood of a household that had a child with malaria being poor was high. This was as a result of expenditure on; treatment, medicines and transport to seek healthcare. In rural areas, a significant (p < 0.05) statistical relationship exists between expenditure on treatment, medicines, transport, borrowing to pay for healthcare plus selling of assets and household poverty level.A rural–based that spent money on treatment or medical consultation, on medicines or transport was twice like to be poor compared to one that did not. In urban areas, 64.8 percent of the poor households and 49.2 percent among the non-poor household had had a child with malaria and expenditure on treatment, on transport and admission of the child is associated with household poverty. Here,a household that spent money on treatment of a child with malaria was 13.3 times likely to be poor compared toone that did not. In the same place of residence, a household that had a child admitted as a result of suffering from malaria was 11.4 times likely to be poor. Control of illness demands more attention and support. Control of malariaespecially among children should be a top priority. Patients should access treatment free of charge or at low fees affordable by the majority. Regular availability of free medicines in public health facilities should be guaranteed. Antimalarial medicines in the private sector should be subsidized so as to improve on availability and access to medicines. Health insurance for all should be promoted. Community healthcarethrough village health teams should be supported. These teams should be facilitated and empowered to promote health in their communities.