Integrated paediatric fever management and antibiotic over-treatment in Malawi health facilities: data mining a national facility census

Table 3 Assessments of clients with fever complaints, Malawi health facilities, 2013–2014

	N Assessed	% Assessed (95% CI)
Fever complaint	1981
Fever mentioned or asked about by provider	1684	85.0 (82.8–87.2)
Temperature taken or body felt for hotness	1386	70.0 (65.5–74.1)
RDT done prior to consultation or referral for malaria diagnosis^a	1426	72.0 (69.0–74.7)
Checked neck for stiffness	44	2.2 (1.4–3.5)
Checked for pallor by looking at palms	524	26.5 (23.5–29.6)
Looked into child’s mouth	185	9.3 (7.4–11.6)
Undressed child to examine (up to shoulders/down to ankles)	563	28.4 (25.2–31.9)
Fever and CDB complaint	1436
Both symptoms mentioned or asked about by provider	1010	70.3 (66.7–73.7)
Counted breaths for 60 s	256	17.8 (14.8–21.2)
Fever and diarrhea complaint	569
Both symptoms mentioned or asked about by provider	307	53.9 (48.3–59.4)
Checked skin turgor for dehydration	98	17.3 (13.3–22.1)

Symptom complaints are based on caregiver reports during exit interviews. Completed assessments are based on recorded observations during consultations
^aRDT done prior to consultation is based on provider reports that RDT was done prior to the consultation. Referral for malaria diagnosis is based on caregiver reports during the exit interview that the provider who treated the child instructed him/her to take the child to see another provider, or to go to the laboratory in this facility for a finger or heel stick for blood to be taken for testing

ISSN: 1475-2875