Malawi 2015-16

10.5.5 Treatment of Childhood Illness
During the 2 weeks before the survey, fever was the
most common illness reported among children under
age 5. Children with ARI symptoms were most often
taken to a health facility or provider for advice or
treatment (78%) (Figure 10.7). Advice or treatment
was sought less often for children with fever (67%)
or diarrhoea (66%).
Figure 10.7 Prevalence and treatment of
childhood illness
Percentage of children
under age 5 with
symptoms in the 2
weeks before the survey
Among those with illness,
percentage for whom
advice or treatment was
sought
78
67 66
5
29
22
ARI Fever Diarrhoea ARI Fever Diarrhoea
10.6 DISPOSAL OF CHILDREN’S STOOLS
Safe disposal of children’s stools
The child’s last stools were put or rinsed into a toilet or latrine, buried, or the
child used a toilet or latrine.
Sample: Youngest child under age 2 living with the mother
Proper disposal of children’s faeces is important to prevent the spread of disease. Eighty-six percent of
children under age 5 had their last stool disposed safely (Table 10.11).
Patterns by background characteristics
• Safe disposal of stools generally increases with children’s age.
• Children’s stools are more likely to be disposed safely in households with an improved toilet facility
(87%) and a shared toilet (85%), compared with an unimproved facility (81%).
• Children’s stools are more likely to be disposed safely in urban households (92%) compared with rural
households (84%).
LIST OF TABLES
For detailed information on low birth weight, vaccinations, childhood illness, and disposal of children’s
stools, see the following tables:
• Table 10.1 Child’s size and weight at birth
• Table 10.2 Vaccinations by source of information
• Table 10.3 Vaccinations by background characteristics
• Table 10.4 Possession and observation of vaccination cards, according to background
characteristics
• Table 10.5 Prevalence and treatment of symptoms of ARI
• Table 10.6 Prevalence and treatment of fever
• Table 10.7 Prevalence and treatment of diarrhoea
• Table 10.8 Feeding practices during diarrhoea
• Table 10.9 Oral rehydration therapy, zinc, and other treatments for diarrhoea
• Table 10.10 Knowledge of ORS packets
• Table 10.11 Disposal of children’s stools
Child Health • 147