By Onyeneho, Nkechi, Genevieve Author
This study examined the impact of culturally defined gender-equity on response
to childhood fevers in Mbaise. A cross-sectional survey of two thousand, three
hundred and eight (2308) fathers and care givers of children (5 5 years), who
experienced fever not more than two weeks preceding the survey was conducted
in two communities in Ezinihitte LGA, lmo State. The main instrument for data
collection was a uniform set of structured interview schedule, administered by
trained research assistants. This was supported by data from focus group
discussion (FGD) with community members and in-depth interviews with
community leaders and health workers.
The analysis of the data showed that rights and responsibilities in
childhood fevers were divided along gender lines. This division is culturally
sanctioned in the communities studied. The Illen monopolized the right to make
decision on the pattern of response to childhood fevers in the household as well as
the allocation of l~ousehold~resou~fo~re tsh' is purpose. On the other hand the
women were saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the execution of the
decisions of the men with respect to seeking help in childhood fevers. The delay
in response to childhood fever differed significantly between the boy-child and
girl-child (ANOI'A = 16.04; P-4.0001). Response was faster when the sex of the
sick child is male. There is a wider variation in health seeking for the girl child,
however this is attributable to the delay in the health seeking for the girl child,
which leads to complications requiring longer treatment and more cost. The
results also showed that the longer the delay the poorer the result of the first
action taken in response to fever in children (~~c/ztm= ~0.e0 11). The boys
improved more after first treatment than the girls (P