KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF MALARIA PREVENTIVE MEASURES AMONG RESIDENTS OF EKOSODIN COMMUNITY, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of malaria preventive measures among student and non-student respondents in Ekosodin Community located close to a tertiary educational institution. A cross-sectional survey of 436 residents was carried out with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Most of all the respondents had a good knowledge about malaria transmission and have had malaria attack in the last six months. 72.3% non-students and 82.9% students associated the infection with mosquito bite. Some of the respondents, 32.6% non-students and 40.9%students sought treatment from the hospital first in the event of a malaria attack. Cost (31.5% non-students and 25.8% students) and perceived safety (31.0% non-students and 25.4% students) of treatment or preventive measure were the most common factors that influenced the choice of malaria treatment or preventive methods.The malaria prevention practices of both groups of respondents were similar and reasonably fair but comparatively more students practiced the use of insecticide sprays (p=0.01). Just about 20% of both non-student and student respondents claimed to have at least one insecticide-treated net (ITN) but only 10.9% of non-students and 13.1% students actually use the ITNs. In conclusion, residents of Ekosodin community have a high level of knowledge on malaria and its preventive measures but this knowledge has not been fully translated into appropriate use of available malaria interventions. Public enlightenment efforts should be intensified to address the identified knowledge gaps and effective malaria preventive measures should be made affordable.