Malawi 2015-16

• Vaccination coverage generally increases with
increasing mother’s education; 79% of children
age 12-23 months whose mothers have a
secondary education have received all basic
vaccinations compared with 72% of children
whose mothers have no education (Figure 10.3).
10.2.3 Vaccination Card Ownership and
Availability
Figure 10.3 Vaccination coverage by
mother’s education
Percentage of children age 12-23 months
who received all basic vaccines at any
time before the survey
72 76 79 78
Vaccination cards are a critical tool in ensuring that
a child receives all recommended vaccinations on
schedule. The proportions of children age 12-23
months and 24-35 months who ever had a Child
Health Passport or other health cards were 99% and
98%, respectively. All mothers were not able to
produce their child’s vaccination card at the time of
No
education
the interview; only 79% of vaccination cards of children age 12-23 months and 66% of vaccination cards
for children age 24-35 months were available (Table 10.4).
10.3 SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTION
Primary Secondary More than
secondary
Mothers reported that 5% of children under age 5 had symptoms of ARI in the 2 weeks before the survey.
The prevalence of ARI (7%) is highest among children age 6-11 months (Table 10.5).
Treatment of ARI symptoms
Children with ARI symptoms for whom advice or treatment was sought. ARI
symptoms include cough accompanied by (1) short, rapid breathing that is
chest-related, and/or (2) difficult breathing that is chest-related.
Sample: Children under age 5 with symptoms of ARI in the 2 weeks before
the survey
Among children under age 5 with ARI symptoms in the 2 weeks before the survey, advice or treatment
was sought for 3 out of 4 (78%) children; 51% sought treatment the same or next day. Treatment was
sought the same or next day for only 41% children under age 6 months.
10.4 FEVER
Fever is a symptom of malaria, but is also associated with other childhood illnesses that may contribute to
high levels of malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality in young children. Information about malaria is
discussed in detail in Chapter 12.
Treatment of fever
Children with fever for whom advice or treatment was sought.
Sample: Children under age 5 with fever in the 2 weeks before the survey
Among children under age 5, 29% had fever in the 2 weeks before the survey. Prevalence of fever peaks at
36% among children age 12-23 months (Table 10.6). Sixty-one percent of children with fever were taken
for advice or treatment and 46% sought treatment the same or next day. Twenty-four percent of children
under age 5 with fever received antibiotics.
144 • Child Health