HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE ON MALARIA PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR FAMILIES IN THE TOWN OF BOBO-DIOULASSO, BURKINA-FASO

A study of household expenditure associated with malaria prevention and treatment was carried out in the town of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. In January 1992 interviews were conducted with the heads of 150 families concerning expenditure during the past 6 months (corresponding to the peak transmission season). Families were selected by cluster sampling in the central, intermediate and outlying zones of the town. Families consisted of 6-7 people pn average and had a total average monthly income of US $288 per month. During the preceding transmission season families had experienced an average of 16 episodes of malaria ('fever') and 85% treated this illness with traditional or modern drugs without reference to a health agent or healer. Seventy-seven per cent of families had been given a prescription by a health agent for one or more episodes of malaria. The average total cost of treatment for the preceding 6 months was US $42 per family. Malaria prevention techniques included chemical prophylaxis, aerosol sprays, mosquito coils and non-impregnated bed nets and the average cost over the previous 6 months was estimated as US $33 per family. Expenditure for prevention and treatment was highest in the central zone of the town. The overall expenditure on malaria prevention and treatment (US $75) was nearly 5% of total family income during the 6 months transmission season. These findings confirm that there is a pattern of high expenditure on disease prevention and treatment among families in many parts of Africa and suggest that family resources could be used more effectively to promote better health.