Knowledge about malaria and treatment modalities among residents of Enugu urban, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: To ascertain the knowledge of malaria transmission mechanisms, presentations, commonly used control measures and treatment modalities among residents of Enugu urban, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was descriptive cross-sectional study. A multistage sampling method was used. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was interviewer administered to less literate respondents and self administered to the literate ones. Result: The knowledge of the respondents about mosquito, malaria vector, breeding site and the malaria parasite were 197(98.5%), 158(79.0%), 182(91.0%) and 130(65.0%0 respectively. Symptoms of malaria were identified as loss of appetite, 101(50.5%), fever/chills, 70(35.0%), and headache, 64(32.0%). One hundred and seventy-two (86.0%) knew about use of blood test for malaria diagnosis. Environmental cleanliness, 166(83.0%), ITNs, 95(47.5%) and insecticide spray, 81(40.5%) were the control measures mostly used by the respondents to control malaria. Most respondents, 118(59.0%) used orthodox drugs in decreasing order as follows: sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine groups 86(43.0%), quinine based drugs 44(22.0%) and Artemisinin combination therapy by 16(8.0%). The differences observed in the correct and incorrect knowledge of malaria, the use and beliefs about the effectiveness and efficiency of orthodox and unorthodox drugs in malaria treatments among the respondents were statistically significant(p<0.05). Conclusion: Residents of Enugu urban were knowledgeable about malaria and its transmission mechanisms. However, only 47.5% and 8.0% percent of them used the recommended ITNs and Artemisinin based combination therapy for malaria prevention and treatment respectively. Additionally, both the orthodox and unorthodox drugs were freely used for malaria treatment.