title: Utilisation of malarial drugs at a household level: results from a KAP study in Choma, southern province and Mporokoso, northern province of Zambia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe and document knowledge and use of anti-malarial drugs at household level in rural Zambia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community based.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected from 392 male and 415 female respondents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Percentage of respondents knowing the cause of malaria and using modern health facilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of respondents in Choma was 37(Q1 = 27, Q3 = 52) while that for Mporokoso respondents was 34(Q1 = 26, Q3 = 47), (p < 0.001). There was no association between educational level and knowledge of causes of malaria (p = 0.674). Fever was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with malaria (20.4% in Choma, 80.6% in Mporokoso). However, only 1% in both areas mentioned the mosquito as a vector for malaria. The majority of residents (59.5%) went to the hospital when they suffered from malaria. Only 7% mentioned the use of traditional medicine. There was an association between the level of education and taking preventive measures against malaria in all the communities (p < 0.001). Respondents did not mention the use of treated mosquito nets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Residents in both Choma and Mporokoso did not know the cause of malaria. The use of treated mosquito nets is rare. Production of information, education, communication (IEC) health materials and recruitment of a village health educator is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, P O Box 71769, Ndola, Zambia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kaona
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Siajunza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manyando
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khondowe
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Ngoma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004522:Educational Status; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials