Knowledge, attitude and practices about malaria among mothers and care-givers in Aba South Local Government Area, Abia state, Nigeria

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Malaria, Attitudes, Knowledge, Practices, Traditional, Orthodox