Hospital workers' practice of malaria prevention and treatment in Sagamu: implications for malaria control in the community

Abstract

Hospital workers constitute an important resource for the community on matters relating to health care including malaria control. To identify the prevention methods recommended and drugs hospital workers in Sagamu routinely use and recommend to community members as first line in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Information was obtained in September 2005 from a cross section of hospital workers (including doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, and administrative workers) in Sagamu on their practices regarding prevention of malaria and treatment of uncomplicated malaria using a semi-structured questionnaire. There were a total of 157 respondents from 22 health facilities. Ninety - three (59.2%) were medical workers while 64 (40.8%) were non-medical health workers. 118 (75.0%) mentioned chloroquine or chloroquine plus any other drug as the first line drug recommended to community members for uncomplicated malaria, and 83 (52.9%) actually use chloroquine alone when treating self for malaria. Artemisinin-based combination therapy was preferred as first line by only 13, (8.3%) of the workers. To prevent malaria, 88 (56.1%) spray their rooms with insecticide, while 28 (17.8%) sleep under insecticide treated nets (ITNs). One hundred and ten (70%) had not attended a workshop on malaria management in the last five years. Hospital workers in Sagamu have a good understanding of the impact of malaria on their community but their practices regarding prevention and treatment of the disease have the potential to further increase the severity of malaria in the community. They need urgent training and periodic re-education on current evidence-based malaria control practices.

Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 49(6) 2006: 164-168