Methods:
Data on pneumonia symptoms, uncomplicated malaria and non-bloody
diarrhoea among children less than five years of age was abstracted from
drug shop sick child registers over a 12-month period; six months before
and six months after introduction of peer-supervision. Interrupted time
series was applied to determine the effectiveness of the
peer-supervision intervention on appropriate treatment of pneumonia,
uncomplicated malaria and non-bloody diarrhoea among children less than
five years of age attending drug shops in East Central Uganda.
Results:
The proportion of children treated appropriately for pneumonia symptoms
was 10.84% (P<0.05, CI = [1.75, 19.9]) higher, for
uncomplicated malaria was 1.46% (P = 0.79, CI = [-10.43, 13.36])
higher, and for non-bloody diarrhoea was 4.00% (p <0.05, CI =
[-7.95, -0.13]) lower in the intervention district than the
comparison district, respectively.
Post-intervention trend results showed an increase of 1.21% (p =0.008,
CI = [0.36, 2.05]) in the proportion appropriately treated for
pneumonia symptoms, no difference in appropriate treatment for
uncomplicated malaria, and a reduction of 1% (p <0.06, CI =
[-1.95, 0.02]) in the proportion of children appropriately treated
for non-bloody diarrhoea, respectively.
Conclusions:
Peer-supervision increased the proportion of children less than five
years of age that received appropriate treatment for pneumonia symptoms
but not for uncomplicated malaria and non-bloody diarrhoea.
Implementation of community level interventions to improve paediatric
fever management should consider including peer-supervision among drug
sellers.