The treatment of child illness in Southern Africa - how has it changed over time?

Andrew A. R. Channon, University of Southampton
Gobopamang Letamo, University of Botswana
Jesman Chintsanya, University of Malawi
Namuunda Mutombo, University of Zambia
Isak Neema, Universiy of Namibia

Timely and good quality care of ill children is an important part of the drive to reach MDG4 on child health. Botswana, Malawi, Namibia and Zambia have all experienced large changes in their health care system. This paper changes over time in the health system in these countries with the treatment of child illnesses. Using the series of DHS, the locations of care when suffering from diarrhoea or ARI are assessed, along with a judgement of the quality of that care. The results indicate that in Malawi more children are being taken to a shop for care, which provides rudimentary care and sometimes poor quality drugs. In Namibia more children are taken to the private sector, while there has been minimal change in Zambia. The care of children has been greatly influenced by changes in the health systems and relates to the possibilities of achieving the child focused MDG.