Knowledge And Attitude Toward The Prevention Of Malaria In The Community

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Malaria continues to be the leading killer-disease in Nigeria, despite countrywide efforts to eradicate the disease. The disease claimed more than 46,000 lives in 2013. While the disease is easily preventable, curable and treatable, it remains a big health threat to many communities in Nigeria [Bärring, L. [1987].

The ailments have proved to be serious threats to the economy. Nearly all Nigerian households experience the burden caused by malarial illness [Imbhale, S. S. et al 2011]. The economic effects of malaria infection can be tremendous and include direct costs for treatment and prevention, as well as indirect costs such as lost productivity from morbidity and mortality; time spent seeking treatment, and diversion of household resources. All these affect the country economy, leading to increased poverty [Leighton, C. et al [1993].

The Nigeria government, through the Ministry of Health (MoH) is committed to the control and prevention of Malaria and subsequently developed a strategy document titled “President’s Malaria Initiative Nigeria- Malaria Operation Plan FY 2013.”The National Malaria Strategy National Malaria Strategy (NMS) document outlined several intervention measures which includes: management of malarial illness, vector control by use of Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) and other methods, such as indoor spraying; control of malaria in pregnancy; and epidemic prevention and control. Although progress has been made and Malaria has been on a slow but steady decline [Njoroge, F. K 2009 ], one of the gaps identified in the NMS is insufficient advocacy and social mobilization which can be enhanced through Behavior Change Communication (BCC) strategy.

Malaria is a mosquito born protozoan infection of humans and other animals caused by parasitic protozoa of genus Plasmodium (WHO, 2015). Approximately, out of 3.4 billion people worldwide who are exposed annually, 1.2 billion are mainly children 0-5 years, and pregnant women. (WHO, 2013) By 2009, malaria was one of devastating diseases killing more than 1 million people annually where pregnant women, children, and immune-compromised individuals had the highest morbidity and mortality, and Africa bearing the heaviest burden (Julianna and Nawal, 2009). Children and Pregnant women are 3 times more likely to suffer from severely as a result of malarial infection compared to their counterparts. In malaria endemic areas, it is estimated that at least 25% of children under 5 years are infected with malaria, with the highest risk of infection and morbidity in neonates and infants. This being because, in high transmission areas, partial immunity is acquired at childhood. However, if this is does not happen, there is rapid progression of disease to severity and death among children being enhanced 2 by severe anemia, hypoglycemia, cerebral malaria which are more commonly seen among children under five than their adult counterparts (WHO, 2014). There are five species of malaria parasites which infect humans namely: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae and P. knowlesi (WHO, 2013). Of these, P. falciparum is the most virulent malaria parasite in Uganda (Bauer, 2015). Among children, WHO recommended Insecticide-treated nets to be provided as early as possible to all households living in malaria endemic areas, epidemic and disaster situations and according to perceived need in the locality and be used throughout pregnancy to mothers, and postpartum to neonates and children (WHO, 2014).

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Malaria is endemic in over 95% areas of the country. According to a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda has the world’s highest malaria incidence, with a rate of 478 cases per 1000 population per year (Bauer 2015). The pattern of malaria parasites transmission is largely a function of the Anopheles mosquito breeding ecology (Greenwood et al., 2008) and the proximity of human dwelling places to vector breeding sites among others (Onyido et al., 2009a). An. gambiae s. l., the principal transmitter of malaria in Nigeria is closely associated with sunlit water collections close to human dwellings. On the contrary, An. funestus which is another important malaria vector in Nigeria tends to breed more in cool, clear, shaded, permanent water bodies relatively undisturbed by man in rural areas (Onyido et al., 2009b). Though Anopheles species are known to be ground pool breeders, a large number of them have been observed in clean collections of water in gutters and domestic containers (Mafiana et al., 1998; Aigbodion and Odiachi, 2003). Anopheles mosquitoes have also been found to breed in clear water of suitable pH, temperature and nutrient composition (Okorie, 1978). They can also be found in fresh or salt water marshes, mangrove swamps, rice fields and grassy ditches as well as the edge of streams and rivers

Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Uganda and is responsible for up to 40% of all outpatient visits, 25% of all hospital admissions and 14% of all hospital deaths. The overall malaria-specific mortality is estimated to be between 70,000 and 100,000 child deaths annually in Uganda, a death toll that far exceeds that of HIV/AIDS (Bauer, 2015). This study investigated the understanding of households on malaria transmission, their recognition of signs and symptoms, and their treatment seeking behaviours, household preventive measures and practices as well as the cultural context within which all of this occurs

 

1.3   OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

To investigate knowledge and attitude toward the prevention of malaria in the community

 

1.4   SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives are to;

1. Describe the social-demographic characteristics of the community.
2. Assess the knowledge and attitude of community about malaria transmission, prevention and control iii. Assess the treatment seeking behavior of the local community for malaria like illness iv. Identify relationships between knowledge, attitudes and practices, socio-economic and demographic variables in relation to malaria prevention and control

 

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study adds to the growing body of knowledge needed for malaria programming forKogi State and the MoH NMCP by providing strategic information to compliment facility-based malaria data sources. The survey provided community data on key malaria indicators including mosquito net ownership and use. To effectively mobilize the community, we need to know what information they have about malaria and their attitudes and practices towards malaria in order to tailor messages that suit their needs. In particular, findings from this study will enable NMCP design more effective BCC strategies.

 

1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS

There are a number of operational definitions that frame and helped guide this research. These include:

• Knowledge of malaria: The ability of a person to have correct understanding of malaria in terms of causative agent, mode of transmission, signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention.
• Attitudes towards malaria prevention: Beliefs of susceptibility, seriousness and threat of malaria.
• Practice of malaria prevention: Routine activities and actions of individual or group for prevention of malaria. These include the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets, using insecticides to spray and control/clear mosquito breeding places.
• Community: refers to a group of people living in a particular area and having shared values, cultural patterns, and social problems.
• Malaria Management :refers to the whole process of recognition of the causes, symptoms and transmission of malaria and seeking health care for it treatment promptly.
• Malaria Control : This is the process that requires eradicating the carrier mosquito or reducing man-vector contact so as to cut in the life-cycle of the parasite.
• Prevalence of Malaria: This means the proportion of individuals in a defined population that have malaria during a specified period of time (period prevalence).

1.7 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

The first chapter contains the study’s introductory section, which includes the study background, the research problem statement, the objective study, and the scope of the study. The second chapter is a critical review of other literatures pertinent to the study and its objectives, as well as the theoretical framework of the study. The third chapter goes over the study’s data collection, sampling, and data analysis methods. The fourth chapter examines the research findings, including how they relate to previous findings. The fifth chapter includes a summary of the findings, a conclusion, and recommendations based on the objectives of the study.