Introduction

Fever in malaria endemic areas, has been shown to strongly predict malaria infection and is a key symptom influencing malaria treatment. WHO recommended confirmation testing for Plasmodium spp. before initiation of antimalarials due to increased evidence of the decrease of morbidity and mortality from malaria, decreased malaria associated fever, and increased evidence of high prevalence of non-malaria fever. To immediately diagnose and promptly offer appropriate management, caretakers of children with fever should seek care where these services can be offered; in health facilities.

Objectives

This study was conducted to describe healthcare seeking behaviors among caretakers of febrile under five years, in Tanzania. And to determine children’s, household and community-level factors associated with parents’ healthcare seeking behavior in health facilities.

Methods

Secondary data analysis was done using the Tanzania HIV and Malaria Indicator Surveys (THMIS) 2011–2012. Three-level mixed effects logistic regression was used to assess children’s, household and community-level factors associated with appropriate healthcare seeking behavior among care takers of febrile children as well as differentiating between household and community variabilities.