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Knowledge of Causes and Complications of Malaria, among Residents of a Rural Community in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, Enugu State University College of Medicine, Park Lane, Enugu, Nigeria
  • 2Department of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, Enugu State University College of Medicine, Park Lane, Enugu, Nigeria
  • 3Department of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, Enugu State University College of Medicine, Park Lane, Enugu, Nigeria

Int. Res. J. Medical Sci., Volume 4, Issue (11), Pages 1-5, November,28 (2016)

Abstract

Malaria disease is widespread in occurrence, killing about 482,000 under-five children globally and with approximately 3.4 billion people at risk. Malaria accounts for about 60% outpatient attendance in health facilities, 30% childhood mortality, and 11% maternal mortality in Nigeria, and the prevalence is more in the rural areas. Misconceptions and myths still exist about the causes and complications of malaria. This observational, cross-sectional study in which 296 respondents participated, was conducted during a medical outreach programme organized in a rural community. Over 50% of the respondents are sixty years and above, with most of them being females (70.3%), and less than half of the respondents (47.0%) having formal education. More than half of the respondents (59.1%) knew that mosquito bite is the cause of malaria, but very large numbers also believe that malaria could be caused by rat bite, excessive oil or ground nut consumption, and working under the sun. The overall knowledge of respondents on causes of malaria was found to be 33.3%. Less than half of the respondents (41.6%) knew that the complications of malaria are commoner among children and pregnant women. Most of them also did not know that malaria can lead to abortion, anaemia, and convulsion in children. Total knowledge on malaria complications was 40.4%. More malaria awareness creation activities targeted at the rural communities in Enugu state by governments and non-governmental organizations shall greatly impact positively on the malaria control/elimination activities in the state.

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