Understanding malaria treatment-seeking preferences within the public sector amongst mobile/migrant workers in a malaria elimination scenario: a mixed-methods study

Table 1 Social demographic characteristics, migration process, correct knowledge and awareness of malaria symptoms and diagnosis for malaria amongst migrant workers with regard to the endemic regions in Myanmar (2013–2015)

Characteristic	Total (n = 9603)		Bago Region (n = 3667)		Other regions (n = 5936)		P value
Characteristic	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	P value
Social demographic characteristics
Category of migrant worksites
Category 1	590	6.1	183	5.0	407	6.9
Category 2	2717	28.3	705	19.2	2012	33.9
Category 3	6296	65.6	2779	75.8	3517	59.2	< 0.001
Number of accompanying family members
1	778	8.1	189	5.2	589	9.9
2–3	3497	36.4	1164	31.7	2333	39.3
4–5	3310	34.5	1417	38.6	1893	31.9
> 5	2018	21.0	897	24.5	1121	18.9	< 0.001
Education level of respondent
Illiterate, read and write	2385	24.8	1095	29.9	1290	21.7
Primary and middle school	6244	65.0	2245	61.2	3999	67.4
High school and above	974	10.2	327	8.9	647	10.9	< 0.001
Migration patterns
Duration of stay (months)
≤ 12	4407	45.9	1357	37.1	3050	51.4
13–23	1651	17.2	955	26.0	696	11.7
24–35	1038	10.8	519	14.1	519	8.8
≥ 36	2309	26.1	836	22.8	1671	28.1	< 0.001
Seasonal migration
Yes	3515	36.6	1453	39.6	2062	34.7
No	6088	63.4	2214	60.4	3874	65.3	< 0.001
Intention to move out within 1 year
Yes	2630	27.4	761	20.8	1869	31.5
No	6973	72.6	2906	79.2	4067	68.5	< 0.001
Awareness of malaria
Health staff visited for malaria-related reasons
Yes	5403	56.3	1655	45.1	3748	63.1
No	4200	43.7	2012	54.9	2188	36.9	< 0.001
Received any form of IEC on malaria
Yes	2979	31.0	1230	33.5	1749	29.5
No	6624	69.0	2437	66.5	4187	70.5	< 0.001
Malaria symptoms known^a
Yes	2809	29.3	1225	33.4	1584	26.7
No	6794	70.7	2442	66.6	4352	73.3	< 0.001
Awareness of means to diagnose malaria^b
Yes	6870	71.5	2082	56.8	4788	80.7
No	2733	28.5	1585	43.2	1148	19.3	< 0.001

Public sector referred to rural health centres, sub-rural health centres, station hospitals, a township hospital and trained voluntary health workers
Private sector referred to general practitioners, clinics at work sites, clinics of non-government organizations (NGO) and malaria volunteers trained by NGOs
IEC information, education, communication
^aMalaria symptoms included combined fever, chills and rigour and headache
^bMeans to diagnose malaria referred to being aware of either the rapid diagnostic test or light microscopy

ISSN: 1475-2875