Effectiveness of Peer-supervision on Paediatric Fever Treatment among
Registered Private Drug Sellers in East-Central Uganda: An Interrupted
Time Series Analysis
Abstract
Rationale, aims and objectives: Appropriate treatment of paediatric
fever in rural areas remains a challenge and may be partly due to
inadequate supervision of licensed drug sellers. This study assessed the
effectiveness of peer-supervision among drug sellers on appropriate
treatment of pneumonia symptoms, uncomplicated malaria and non-bloody
diarrhoea among children less than five years of age in the intervention
(Luuka) and comparison (Buyende) districts, in East-Central Uganda.
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.