Data were collected from patients by the use of a structured
interview questionnaire and also from their medical
records. Information received from these sources
included sociodemographic characteristics, treatmentseeking
behaviour, access of health services, and social
support from family or community. Social support from
family or community was defined as having receiving
advice from one or more family or community members
about how malaria is transmitted, its symptoms, complications,
diagnosis, and treatment, and also having provided
a respondent with either information, material, transport
or money to attend a health clinic. The ten questions
asked about social support were dichotomous, with a
score of 1 for yes and 0 for no. Scores were categorized
into three levels to attain a total score for social support
(low