Demographic and Health Survey 2009-10 - Timor-Leste Ministry of ...

The highest prevalence of fever is reported among children age 12-23 months (23 percent).
Fever is least common among children age 48-59 months (12 percent).The proportion of children with
fever differs by urban-rural residence, with 24 percent of urban children having fever in the two
weeks before the survey as opposed to 18 percent in the rural areas. Liquiçá reported the highest
proportions of children with fever (34 percent), while Ainaro had the lowest proportion (5 percent).
Children older than 12 months are most likely to be given antimalarial drugs for the treatment
of fever and to receive the drugs the same or the next day. There is hardly any urban-rural variation in
getting antimalarial drugs. Children of mothers with no education are more likely to receive antimalarial
drugs (8 percent) than children of mothers with primary and secondary education.
Table 13.6 presents information on the type and timing of antimalarial drugs given to children
under age 5 who had fever in the two weeks preceding the survey, by background characteristics.
Fansidar is the most common antimalarial drug given to children with fever (3 percent), followed by
chloroquine (2 percent), and quinine (1 percent). The very low percentage of children with fever
treated with antimalarial drugs can be attributed to the revised protocol put in place since 2007 that
advocates treatment for malaria upon confirmation by microscopy testing or Rapid Diagnostic Tests
(RDTs). As discussed in Chapter 11, the majority of children with fever are prescribed paracetemol or
antibiotics in the absence of the availability of RDTs or while waiting for the laboratory results
Table 13.6 Type and timing of antimalarial drugs
Among children under age 5 with fever in the two weeks preceding the survey, percentage who took specific antimalarial drugs and percentage
who took each type of drug the same or next day after developing the fever, by background characteristics, Timor-Leste 2009-10
Background
characteristic
SP/
Fansidar
Percentage of children who took drug:
Chloroquine
Quinine ACT
Other
antimalarial
Percentage of children who took drug the same or
next day:
SP/
Fansidar
Chloroquine
Quinine ACT
Other
antimalarial
Number
of
children
with fever
Age (in months)