Table 2 Treatment and treatment-seeking behaviors for children under-five with fever (n = 1641)

Treatment seeking for fever

 Caregiver sought treatment

1038/1641

63.4 %

1.67%

60.1–66.6%

 Caregiver sought prompt treatment (≤ 24 h)

571/1038

55.9%

1.87%

52.2–59.6%

First treatment source^a

 Public health facility

854/1038

82.2%

1.48%

79.1–84.9%

 Other^b

184/1038

17.8%

1.48%

15.1–20.9%

Treatment of fever

 Received any treatment

982/1038

94.6%

0.83%

92.7–96.1%

Type of treatment

 Artemisinin combination therapy (ACT)

469/982

47.6%

2.11%

43.4–51.7%

 Chloroquine

472/982

48.7%

2.19%

44.5–53.1%

 Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP)

153/982

15.0%

1.37%

12.5–17.9%

 Paracetamol

770/982

78.4%

1.67%

74.3–80.9%

 Herbs

141/982

14.4%

1.36%

11.6–17.0%

 Other^c

136/982

13.5%

1.32%

11.1–16.3%

ACT treatment time^d

 Received ACT same/next day ( within 24 h)

314/469

67.8%

2.33%

63.0–72.2%

 Received ACT on day 2

93/469

19.4%

2.00%

15.8–23.7%

 Received ACT 3 + days

29/469

6.0%

1.07%

4.2–8.5%

 ACT treatment time unknown

33/469

6.8%

1.21

4.8–9.6%

ACT duration^d

 Took ACT for 3 days (correct duration)

222/469

47.4%

2.56%

42.4–52.4%

 Did not take ACT for 3 days

244/469

52.0%

2.53%

47.1–57.0%

 ACT duration unknown

3/469

0.57%

0.03%

0.19–1.74%

 Mean duration of ACT treatment (days)

3.62

0.80

3.47–3.78

Prompt and effective treatment with ACT^e

 Children who received ACT < 24 h & Completed 3-day treatment course

137/433

31.6%

2.57%

27.3–37.4%