{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T19:10:13Z","timestamp":1760123413048,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,22]],"date-time":"2023-02-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1677024000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"VLIRUOS","award":["ZEIN2016PR422"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["ZEIN2016PR422"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Indigenous populations are represented among the poor and disadvantaged in rural areas. High rates of infectious diseases are observed in indigenous child populations, and fever as a general symptom is common. Objective: We aim to improve the skills of healers in rural indigenous areas in the South of Ecuador for managing children with fevers. Method: We performed participatory action research (PAR) for this study with 65 healers. Results: The PAR focused on the following four phases: (1) \u2018observation,\u2019 eight focus groups were used. (2) \u2018planning\u2019 phase was developed, and with culturally reflective peer group sessions, a culturally adapted flowchart was constructed titled \u201cManagement of children with fever.\u201d In phase (3): \u2018action\u2019, the healers were trained to manage children with fever. Phase (4): \u2018evaluation\u2019, 50% of the healers used the flowchart. Conclusions: Explicit recognition of the need for traditional healers and health professionals in indigenous communities to work together to improve health indicators such as infant mortality exists. Additionally, strengthening the transfer system in rural areas is based on knowledge and cooperation between the community and the biomedical system.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20053923","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,23]],"date-time":"2023-02-23T02:28:57Z","timestamp":1677119337000},"page":"3923","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Improving the Management of Children with Fevers by Healers in Native Rural Areas in the South of Ecuador"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6012-3403","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Estefan\u00eda","family":"Bautista-Valarezo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad T\u00e9cnica Particular de Loja, Loja 1101608, Ecuador"},{"name":"Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maria Elena","family":"Espinosa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad T\u00e9cnica Particular de Loja, Loja 1101608, Ecuador"},{"name":"Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias M\u00e9dicas, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Narciza Eugenia","family":"Arce Guerrero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Facultad de Ciencias M\u00e9dicas, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3708-6501","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Veronique","family":"Verhoeven","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kristin","family":"Hendrickx","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias M\u00e9dicas, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1971-0793","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nele R. M.","family":"Michels","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2021, May 25). United Nations Millennium Development Goals. 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