Knowledge, attitudes and practices about malaria in an urban community in south-western Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
Oyo is an urban community in Oyo state of south-western Nigeria and it is holoendemic for malaria. Information was collected on the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of inhabitants of Oyo town in relation to malaria.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of 192 households with the aid of self- or researcher-administered questionnaires was carried out to identify factors associated with the disease in the area.


RESULTS
About 93.2% (n=192) of respondents recognized mosquito bites as the cause of malaria. A small proportion of children (13.7%) and adults (5.3%) received prompt treatment; however, more adults (65.8%) got correct dosage of antimalarials than children (38.7%). About 90% of suspected malaria cases in children and adults were first treated at home with local herbs or drugs, purchased from medicine stores. The use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) was scarce as only 16.7% of households used them for their children. Other reported malaria prevention methods include the use of insecticides (79.7%) and herbs (44.3%). In all, 17 (8.9%) of households did not have screening nets on their windows and 6.3% of 175 households with screening nets on their windows had rusty and torn nets. The level of education of heads of households was a strong predictor of positive malaria-related KAP. Window types and environmental hygiene were associated with prevalence of malaria in households.


CONCLUSIONS
The control of malaria cannot be achieved without full involvement of the affected communities; the available tools for control can only be effective and sustainable if the local communities are mobilized and empowered with knowledge. It is suggested that health education campaigns be intensified; chemist shop-keepers and mothers being important target groups.
Adedotun
A A
AA
Parasitology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Morenikeji
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OA
Odaibo
A B
AB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017053:Infection Control; D019359:Knowledge; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult