Knowledge, attitudes and practices in the control and prevention of malaria in four endemic provinces of Zambia

Shimaponda-Mataa, Nzooma M.; Tembo-Mwase, Enala; Gebreslasie, Michael; Mukaratirwa, Samson

doi:10.4102/sajid.v32i1.67

Cited by 8 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Meanwhile, having at least secondary level of education was found associated with a positive in uence on malaria related attitude and knowledge, which is consistent with previous studies showing the importance of education in caregivers [7,21]. But Nzooma et al [11] in Zambia reported that higher levels of education were not related to higher knowledge levels and good practices towards malaria control. Our ndings indicated that the student mothers might know more but do less.…”

Section: Correlation Between Caregivers' Socio-demographic Characterisupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Researches [7][8][9][10] concerning individual knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) have shown that factors, including education levels, in some instances, are related to behaviour in malaria prevention and control. Behaviour is an important component in malaria prevention and control, but the behavioral status against malaria affected by the KAPs levels in the community was even more crucial [11].…”

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confidence: 99%

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A Cross-Sectional Survey on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Malaria Control and Prevention Among Caregivers of Children Under-5 in the Western Area of Sierra Leone

Koroma

Wang

Guo

et al. 2021

Preprint

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BackgroundChildren under-5 are the most vulnerable to malaria infection and they suffer serious complications. Sierra Leone is one of the countries with the highest malaria burden in the world. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) towards malaria control and prevention among caregivers of children under-5 in the Western Area of Sierra Leone.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among caregivers of children under-5 visiting the out-patient department of six selected hospitals/community health centers. Data were collected via questionnaire interview with 350 caregivers. Further statistical analyses were performed primarily Spearman’s rank test for inferring the correlations among KAPs, univariate and multivariate logistic regression for demonstration the association between KAPs and socio-demographic characteristics.ResultsWomen made up 97.1% of respondents with the majority being young mothers-including 33 single student moms. 46.3% among respondents were unemployed and 27.1% had no educational background. Only 1.4% received malaria related information from the internet/social media. This KAPs survey indicated that misconception of cause, transmission and clinical symptoms of malaria; unawareness of lethality and severity; inappropriate behaviors in prevention and treatment such as self-medicating were still in existence in caregivers. But a positive correlation in knowledge-attitudes (rs = 0.13, P < 0.05) and attitudes-practices (rs = 0.45, P < 0.001) were revealed. The caregivers being a mother and having at least secondary education were demonstrated associated with positive attitudes and practices. Meanwhile, more urban-based caregivers (79.8%) followed a complete malaria treatment course of ACTs than the rural (63.3%), but in view of ITNs use, more rural-based caregivers presented positive attitudes (85.3%) and practices (70.1%) than the urban (69.9%, 52.0%). The student moms might know more but do less. ConclusionsIn order to better protect children under-5 against lethal malaria, their caregivers, especially young mothers, need strong support to reduce misconceptions, inappropriate behaviors, and provide increased vigilance. It is important to develop an efficient communication channel to disseminate information regarding malaria, especially strengthening community-based media infrastructure, including internet/social media. A increase in education and employment opportunities for women, as well as setting up community-based malaria counselling services, is urgently needed.

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Section: Correlation Between Caregivers' Socio-demographic Characterisupporting

confidence: 86%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Malaria Control and Prevention Among Caregivers of Children Under-5 in the Western Area of Sierra Leone

Koroma

Wang

Guo

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Misconceptions about causes of malaria in this study although reported by few respondents include living in dirty environment, eating contaminated food, stress, and exposure to sunlight. Some studies in Nigeria and parts of Africa have also reported spurious causes of malaria such as staying for long in the sun and drinking bad water among other misconceptions on malaria [ 11 , 21 , 23 , 24 ]. Overlapping knowledge on malaria causes, key symptoms, and prevention was observed between pregnant women and the non-pregnant mothers of children aged under 5 years in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Good malaria knowledge was associated with higher level of educational status of the women. In previous studies, educational status has been linked with good health awareness and health-seeking behaviour for the child [ 23 , 25 ], and also improved knowledge on malaria and prevention among mothers [ 9 , 18 , 26 ]. Such association according to Fana et al stresses the role education could have on the overall success in malaria control programmers in a region [ 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge of malaria prevention among pregnant women and non-pregnant mothers of children aged under 5 years in Ibadan, South West Nigeria

Oladimeji

Tsoka-Gwegweni

Ojewole

et al. 2019

Malar J

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BackgroundAdequate knowledge of malaria prevention and control can help in reducing the growing burden of malaria among vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women and children aged under 5 years living in malaria endemic settings. Similar studies have been conducted but with less focus on these vulnerable groups. This study assessed knowledge of malaria prevention and control among the pregnant women and non-pregnant mothers of children aged under 5 years in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria.MethodsIn this cross sectional study, data on socio-demographic, clinical and knowledge on malaria prevention was collected using interviewer administered questionnaires from consenting study participants attending Adeoyo maternity hospital between May and November 2016. Data was described using percentages and compared across the two maternal groups in the study population. Knowledge scoring from collected data was computed using the variables on causes, symptoms and prevention of malaria and thereafter dichotomised. Multivariate analyses were used to assess the interactive effect of socio demographic and clinical characteristics with malaria knowledge. Level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.ResultsOf the 1373 women in the study, 59.6% (818) were pregnant women while 40.4% (555) were mothers of children aged under 5 years. The respondents mean age was 29 years ± 5.2. A considerable proportion of both the pregnant women (n = 494, 60.4%) and the non-pregnant mothers of children aged under 5 years (n = 254, 45.8%) did not have correct knowledge on malaria prevention measures based on our assessment threshold (p < 0.001). Having a tertiary level education was associated with better knowledge on malaria (4.20 ± 1.18, F = 16.80, p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that marital status, educational attainment, gravidity, and HIV status were significantly associated with knowledge of malaria prevention and control.ConclusionThe findings indicate that socio-demographic factors such as marital and educational status greatly influence knowledge on malaria prevention and control measures. Key health stakeholders and authorities need to implement strategies and direct resources to improve the knowledge of mothers on malaria prevention and control. This would stem the tides of malaria related deaths among pregnant women and children aged under 5 years.

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“…The majority of the respondents also associated mosquito bites with malaria transmission, in Zambia (Africa) [ 23 ], Swaziland (Africa) [ 16 ], in Muleba (Africa) [ 18 ]. This leads us to believe that the problem lies not in what populations know about malaria, but in the disconnection between them and the disease control plans taught by Departments of Health and other government entities [ 24 , 25 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community perception of malaria in a vulnerable municipality in the Colombian Pacific

Rosero

Jaramillo

Montenegro

et al. 2020

Malar J

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Background Malaria primarily affects populations living in poor socioeconomic conditions, with limited access to basic services, deteriorating environmental conditions, and barriers to accessing health services. Control programmes are designed without participation from the communities involved, ignoring local knowledge and sociopolitical and cultural dynamics surrounding their main health problems, which implies imposing decontextualized control measures that reduce coverage and the impact of interventions. The objective of this study was to determine the community perception of malaria in the municipality of Olaya Herrera in the Colombian Pacific. Methods A 41-question survey on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to malaria, the perception of actions by the Department of Health, and access to the health services network was conducted. Results A total of 134 adults were surveyed, in whose households a total of 671 people lived. According to the survey data, about 80% of the household members included teenagers and children, out of which 61% had malaria at one time, and for 75.3%, this disease is a persistent problem. In spite of this, 57.2% of people who fell ill due to malaria were never visited by health personnel for a follow up. This population claimed that responsibility for who should prevent the disease is shared between each person and the Department of Health. However, personal actions were focused on using mosquito nets, ignoring other important practices to prevent bites. Despite campaigns by the Department of Health, 11.9% of respondents did not know how malaria was transmitted, and 8.96% thought it was transmitted through water. Also, 43.5% said that the Department of Health did not do any work to control malaria and 16% did not know if any action was taken. Conclusions In spite of the knowledge about malaria and the efforts of the Department of Health to prevent it, the community actions do not seem to be consistent with this knowledge, as the number of cases of malaria is still high in the area.

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Knowledge, attitudes and practices in the control and prevention of malaria in four endemic provinces of Zambia

Cited by 8 publications

References 3 publications

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Malaria Control and Prevention Among Caregivers of Children Under-5 in the Western Area of Sierra Leone

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Malaria Control and Prevention Among Caregivers of Children Under-5 in the Western Area of Sierra Leone

Knowledge of malaria prevention among pregnant women and non-pregnant mothers of children aged under 5 years in Ibadan, South West Nigeria

Community perception of malaria in a vulnerable municipality in the Colombian Pacific

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