Knowledge, attitude and practices about malaria among members of a university community in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria is still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many tropical regions despite global efforts towards its eradication. This study investigates knowledge and practices about malaria among members of Kwara State University community, Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to 518 undergraduate students and 91 staff randomly from the university community. Majority (99.63 %) of students and staff (98.91 %) agreed that malaria is caused by mosquito bite, two hundred and twenty two (42.09 %) of the students and 69.23 % of staff identified the female Anopheles mosquito as the vector of malaria. A total of 32.82 % picked stagnant water; 27.03 % water retaining containers and 38.19 % plant/vegetation as mosquito vector habitat. The majority of students (83.78 %) and staff (97.80 %) also responded that night was the common vector biting period. On malaria symptoms the respondents ranked fever (71.81 %), body pain (31.85 %) and headaches (29.53 %) while staff responses followed similar trends. On the medication employed for the treatment of malaria, ACT, (53.86 %), Artesunate (25.09 %), Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (15.44 %) and paracetamol (10.81%) attested to by the students while those of the staff was in the order 53.84 % ACT, 29.67 % Artesunate and 18.68 % Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine. The result elucidates that most respondents had fair knowledge about malaria, its vector, habitat, prevention and control, but the majority had poor practices towards malaria. Therefore, education and interventions aimed at social and behaviour change are necessary to address and fill the gaps highlighted, conscious efforts toward enlightenment of the people of the university community and its environment is a necessary step among suggestions proffered.

Keywords: Malaria, Community, Container survey, Knowledge, Practice