Towards malaria control: the knowledge of health care providers about mosquito and malaria transmission.
OBJECTIVE
To find out how much health care providers know about the transmission of malaria and the vector.


METHODS
A cross sectional study was carried out using a predesigned questionnaire which was self administered by the student to collect the necessary information for analysis. Live samples of mosquito larvae, drawn larva and adults were provided for the subjects to identify to assess their knowledge.


METHODS
The University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the School of Health Technology.


METHODS
254 randomly selected Community Health Officers in training at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the School of Health Technology in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.


METHODS
Many of the students had no knowledge of the subject. The School's authorities were encouraged to include field practicals in their curriculum to improve the students' knowledge on mosquitoes and malaria transmission.


RESULTS
Only (26.8%) and (18.1%) of the subjects could identify both drawn and live larvae respectively while (25.2%) identified the adult mosquito correctly. All the respondents knew that the mosquito transmits diseases but quite a few knew the diseases transmitted included malaria (55.3%), yellow fever (16.0%) and elephantiasis (10.7%) respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The knowledge of the students on the biology of mosquitoes and their role as the malaria vector was poor. The education of the subject on this important endemic disease is advocated to improve the quality of life of citizens and promote the primary Health Care Programme in Nigeria.
Wagbatsoma
V A
VA
Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benin, Nigeria.
Ogbeide
O
O
D003150:Community Health Workers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires