Perception and Treatment Seeking Behavior for Malaria in Rural Nigeria: Implications for Control (original) (raw)
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Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2007
Purpose: To compare the awareness and treatment knowledge of malaria amongst caregivers of young children in urban and rural areas of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area in Ogun State. Method: Structured questionnaires were administered to caregivers of children under the age of five years in 1472 households using a multistage random sampling technique. Results: Many respondents (65%) attributed the cause of malaria to mosquito bite. The knowledge of malaria treatment (particularly the knowledge of pediatric doses) was generally poor. Caregivers in urban areas had better understanding of the dosage regimen for both adult and pediatric doses (p<0.05) than those in rural areas (p <0.05). However, caregivers in urban areas also sought more frequently for treatment of their children that are febrile than those living in rural areas. The latter visited the patent medicine vendors more frequently than the former (p<0.05). Conclusion: The caregivers of children in the communities studied have poor knowledge of malaria. Those in urban areas have better health-seeking behaviour than those in rural areas. There is therefore need for urgent interventions to promote appropriate treatments of malaria in rural areas.
Malaria Control & Elimination, 2016
Background: Malaria remains a major global public health and development challenge especially in tropical Africa. Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest form of the malaria parasite, is responsible for the vast majority of the mortality and morbidity associated with malaria infection. This study therefore, aims to evaluate the caregiver's knowledge, attitude and practice regarding malaria and treatment of children below five (5) years in the rural community. Methods: A community-based cross sectional survey was conducted in different households among mothers' with children below five (5) years of age selected by systematic random sampling. In total, 50 respondents were interviewed in the rural community using a semi-structured, paper-based questionnaire designed to capture information on socio-demographic characteristics, active knowledge, treatment seeking behaviour of caregivers/ parents, types of treatment employed by the care-givers and personal protective measures against Malaria. Results: Most respondents correctly associated malaria with infected female anopheles mosquito bites (99.7%) and reported that they will seek treatment within 24 hours of noticing the first symptoms of malaria. Although the respondents were unaware of the susceptibility of children to malaria parasite, thirty seven percent (37%) preferred to use herbs while (17%) will take children to the clinic/dispensary for treatment. Caregivers also make use of artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT) (7%), analgesics (5%), antibiotics (5%) but majority of the respondents use self-prescribed palliative drug combinations/over-the-counter drugs (40%) in treating malaria. They were also aware of preventive measures against malaria such as insecticide treated bed-nets (28%), but there was low ownership and usage of the bed nets among respondents as only 19% of them have access to bed nets. Other preventive measures include spraying with insecticide (29%), wearing long sleeved clothes (29%), and draining of stagnant water (13%). Conclusion: There was dearth of information percolating to mothers most especially on current trends in management, control and prevention of acute uncomplicated malaria in the endemic rural community. Provision of affordable healthcare facilities by government and improved patronage coupled with sound integration of health information and education policy would enhance and promote change of attitude, behaviour and practice will help in combating malaria in the rural endemic settings.
PERCEPTION OF MALARIA AND TREATMENT SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AMONG RURAL DWELLERS IN NIGERIA
Global Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 2015
Malaria is the most important parasitic disease in the tropics and remains of highest public health importance. About 90% of all malaria deaths in the world today occur in Africa. An estimated one million people in Africa die from malaria each year and most of these are children under five years old The factors determining the health behaviours may be seen in various contexts: physical, socioeconomic , cultural and political. Therefore, the utilization of a health care system, public or private, formal or non-formal, may depend on socio-demographic factors, social structures, level of education, cultural beliefs and practices, gender discrimination, status of women, economic and political systems, environmental conditions, and the disease pattern and health care system itself. Malaria remains a major Public Health problem in Nigeria and causes death and illness in children and adults, especially pregnant women. The objective of this review is to look at the following areas: malaria epidemiology; the burden of malaria on Nigerian rural dwellers; perception and treatment seeking behaviour of rural dwellers; and treatment sources of the rural dwellers.
Perception and Home Management of Malaria in Rural Communities in Imo State, Nigeria
International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2014
This Study was designed to access the pattern of home management of malaria in rural communities in Okigwe Zone, Imo State, Nigeria. The objectives were to determine the rural communities' knowledge about the transmission of malaria, spread of malaria, frequent bite time of mosquito and how malaria is prevented at home as well as patterns of home management of malaria in the rural communities. A descriptive survey design was used and sample size was 963. A structured, validated and reliable questionnaire (r = 0.77) was used as instrument for data collection. The results showed that out of 963 respondents, 512(53.2%) reported that malaria is not transmissible while 441(45.8%) reported that malaria is transmissible. 847(88%) noted that malaria spreads through mosquito bite while insignificant number, 7(0.7%) said malaria spreads through drinking dirty water and eating unhygienic food. Majority of the respondents 767(79.6%) had no idea about the frequent biting time while 91(9.4%) said it is in the night. In terms of preventive measures practiced by respondents, the majority 423(22.8%) used mosquito mat, coils, liquid and vaporizer, 314(16.9%) respondents used mosquito net (ITN/LLTN) while the minority 68(3.7%) used firewood smoke to drive mosquito away. Diagnosis is made by 268(27.8%) respondents using fever, loss of appetite and weakness. In the multiple response measures used in the home management of malaria, 565 (30.1%) said they used chloroquine, amodiaquine and quinine in the treatment of malaria. 290(15.5%) used a special herb, Azadirachta Indica (dogonyaro/Akum shut up leaf), 197(10.5%) used artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), 117(6,2%) indicated that they used prayer, 92(4.9%) used plant roots, while 54(2.9%) used more than one in succession. Based on the above results, the rural communities still require enlightenment campaign and health education on home management of malaria.
The knowledge of the symptoms, treatment seeking behaviors and management of malaria amongst mothers and care-givers in Aba South LGA in South eastern Nigeria was assessed. A total of five hundred and two mothers and care-givers were interviewed using closed ended pre-tested structured questionnaires, which was administered to community members that fell within the targeted audience. The results of the investigations showed that there was a high level of knowledge of the causal agent of malaria, as 97.01 % attributed it to female anopheline mosquito bites. Radio (56.77%) and the television (20.32 %) was the major sources of information on malaria diagnosis and management strategies amongst the studied population. 54.58 % of the respondents had only secondary level of education. A remarkable mix-up of traditional and orthodox medication in the treatment of malaria was noticed. 53.19 % visited the patent medicine shop each time they fell ill and 37.85 % used local herbs. Some of the herbs were boiled before drinking, inhaled or used to bathe as the case may be, while 5.98 % visited the hospital. Preventive measures against mosquito bites included the use of insecticide spray (15.25%), use of mosquito coils (44.60%), use of insecticide treated bed nets (12.88%) and the use of fumes from Ocimum grattissimum (10.74%) locally called Nchanwu among others. We suggest that government should intensify efforts at reaching the rural dwellers that lack basic health amenities, these can be done by making available anti-malarial drugs, insecticide treated bed nets and finally the provision of intensive health education programmes are advocated to remedy and control malaria.
The knowledge of the symptoms, treatment seeking behaviors and management of malaria amongst mothers and care-givers in Aba South LGA in South eastern Nigeria was assessed. A total of five hundred and two mothers and care-givers were interviewed using closed ended pre-tested structured questionnaires, which was administered to community members that fell within the targeted audience. The results of the investigations showed that there was a high level of knowledge of the causal agent of malaria, as 97.01 % attributed it to female anopheline mosquito bites. Radio (56.77%) and the television (20.32 %) was the major sources of information on malaria diagnosis and management strategies amongst the studied population. 54.58 % of the respondents had only secondary level of education. A remarkable mix-up of traditional and orthodox medication in the treatment of malaria was noticed. 53.19 % visited the patent medicine shop each time they fell ill and 37.85 % used local herbs. Some of the herbs were boiled before drinking, inhaled or used to bathe as the case may be, while 5.98 % visited the hospital. Preventive measures against mosquito bites included the use of insecticide spray (15.25%), use of mosquito coils (44.60%), use of insecticide treated bed nets (12.88%) and the use of fumes from Ocimum grattissimum (10.74%) locally called Nchanwu among others. We suggest that government should intensify efforts at reaching the rural dwellers that lack basic health amenities, these can be done by making available anti-malarial drugs, insecticide treated bed nets and finally the provision of intensive health education programmes are advocated to remedy and control malaria.
Perception and Home Management of Malaria in Rural Communities in Okigwe Zone, Imo State, Nigeria
The objectives were to determine the rural communities' knowledge on cause, transmission, spread of malaria, breeding sites of mosquitoes, signs and symptoms, health seeking behaviour of respondents, preventive measures and patterns of home management of malaria in the rural communities in Imo State. Study Design: A descriptive survey design was used. Place and Duration of Study: Imo State, Nigeria, between February 2013 and April 2013. Methodology: The sample size was 2674 adults (1650 males, 1024 females, age range 20-70 years). A structured, validated and reliable questionnaire (r = 0.81) and focus group discussion were used as instruments for data collection.
Home Management of Malaria (HMM) is a component of the roll back malaria (RBM) programme being implemented for over a decade to reduce the malaria burden. This study examined the extent to which HMM has raised the ability in promptly recognising and treating malaria at home. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 262 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics and 233 mothers of under-five children using semi-structured questionnaire in Ijebu North and Yewa North local government areas of Ogun State. Data collection also involved focus group discussions. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed using EpiInfo 6.04a and Textbase Beta softwares respectively. Only 32.7% of respondents knew about HMM. About 48% preferred analgesics unlike ACTs (0.6%) for malaria treatment. While 45.5% (61.1% Yewa North vs. 29.2% Ijebu North) knew LLIN, only 23.6% used it. Lack of awareness was the major reason for non-use of ACTs (86.1%) and LLINs (71.3%) in HMM. Locality, age, and educati...
Knowledge, attitude and practices on malaria among the rural communities in aliero, northern Nigeria
Journal of family medicine and primary care, 2014
Families' perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes about malaria causation, symptom identification, treatment of malaria, and prevention are often overlooked in malaria control efforts. This study was conducted to understand these issues, which can be an important step towards developing strategies, aimed at controlling malaria. A community based descriptive cross-sectional study in four villages: Danwarai, Gehuru, Jiga, and Kashin Zama of Aliero local government area in Kebbi Sate, in northern Nigeria. Two hundred household were randomly selected and interviewed using standardized questionnaire. Knowledge of the role of mosquitoes in malaria transmission (11.8%) and cause of malaria (9.6%) was observed to be low among the study population. Comprehensive knowledge about malaria prevention measures was high (90%), but not reflecting in their practice (16%). They have good knowledge of mosquito behavior (breeding areas (64.5%), resting places (70%) and biting time (81%)). Seeking hospi...