Knowledge and misconceptions about malaria among secondary school students and teachers in Kassala, Eastern Sudan

Abstract

This study reports the responses of high secondary school students and teachers to a questionnaire on their knowledge and misconceptions about malaria. Knowledge about symptoms and cause of malaria seems to be adequate. However, there were deficiencies regarding knowledge of the seriousness of malaria in primigravidas and children. There was an exaggerated belief that chloroquine may cause abortion. There were also important misconceptions regarding the causation of malaria by the plant Unkoleeb (sorghum saccharatum), the belief that the local beverage Aradaib (Tramindus indica) cures malaria, as well as beliefs that chloroquine injections are more effective than tablets, that intravenous fluids are essential for treatment of every attack, and that multi-vitamins may prevent the disease. The study throws light on areas where health education should be focused.

An exploratory study of community factors relevant for participatory malaria control on Rusinga Island, western Kenya

“…This indicates limited contributions of primary education, which is the major level of education found in the community. In fact, a FGD with primary school teachers revealed basically the same knowledge and misconceptions as the rest of the community (see also [107]). Therefore, primary school teachers need to be included and targeted by the RMP to improve their knowledge to consequently improve school health education.…”

“…Therefore, primary school teachers need to be included and targeted by the RMP to improve their knowledge to consequently improve school health education. Schools are an important entry point for malaria education [47,107,108] and in a country with over seven million primary school children they present a great opportunity to improve health in the community [32]. The issue of vegetation clearance is currently an examination topic at Kenyan schools, constituting a major problem which urgently needs to be corrected.…”

Social Aspects of Malaria among Students in Two Tertiary Institutions in Lagos, Nigeria

“…Elzubier et al (1997) reported that there are wrong misconceptions of malaria even among students. Likewise, Okwa and Ibidapo (2010) reported that some students have erroneous perceptions of Malaria.…”

Publics’ Malaria Knowledge, Prevention and Treatment Practices, A Cross-sectional Survey From Khartoum, Sudan

“…Although the percentage that practiced self-treatment in the current study was 6.1%, part of the 17.7% who seek malaria treatment at community pharmacies could also be considered as practicing self-treatment because they mentioned that the community pharmacist dispensed antimalarials upon their request.in the current study, primary educated people were more likely to go for self-treatment however in the study carried by Awad et al, medical students were practicing malaria self-treatment more than other university students [16]. Self-treatment using herbal drugs was of the practices reported in Sudan [20,21] as well as many African communities such as in Cameroon [6] and in Kenya [22].…”