Outcome of a face – face Educational strategy on awareness and treatment knowledge of malaria amongst Caregivers of young children in a rural community in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: To improve the awareness and treatment knowledge of malaria among careers of young children using a face-to-face intervention approach in a rural community in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government area, South west Nigeria.
Method: Ten health workers were recruited to train caregivers of young children on appropriate case management of malaria using a face-to-face educational intervention strategy and distribution of printed educational intervention strategy and distribution of printed educational materials in six hundred randomly selected households of Igbesa and Agbara Communities. Structured questionnaires were then administered to the target caregivers one and three months post intervention.
Result: There was a significant improvement in the treatment knowledge and awareness of malaria amongst careers in Igbesa Community (received face to face education plus printed educational materials) (p<0.05) compared with those in Agbara Community (received only printed educational materials) three months after the intervention.

Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of face-to-face educational intervention as an effective strategy for improving malaria case management in the community. This strategy if properly implemented provides a suitable framework for scaling up Home Management of Malaria in Nigeria. A combination of two or more strategies will give better outcome.


Keywords: Caregivers, Antimalarials, Face-to-face Educational Intervention, Under-five children, Case management.

NQJHM Vol. 15 (2) 2005: pp. 72-76