Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Malaria and iIts Control Strategies in Shashemene Woreda, Oromia Regional State.
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: The burden of malaria in endemic locality is significantly affected by the
knowledge, attitude and practice of the community towards utilization of the available control
strategies. The accessibility of health facilities with all necessary materials for malaria case
treatment, the availability of vector control options may not necessarily bring about the desired
reduction in the burden of disease with out communities’ knowledge about use of those control
strategies.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding malaria and its
control in a rural population of Shashemene Woreda.
Methods: The study used a community based cross-sectional household survey that was carried
out from October 20, - November 20, 2010, in the rural areas of Shashemene Woreda in West
Arsi Zone of Oromia Regional, South Ethiopia. All households in the malarious kebeles of the
woreda were randomly selected for the study. Both quantitative and qualitative research
methods were used for data collection. A structured questionnaire for collecting sociodemographic
and malaria-related information was administered to the head of the household or
representative living at least more than six months in that house or any family member with the
age greater than 18 years.
Results: Of 542 households selected for the study, 529 households participated, yielding a
response rate of 97.6%. Most of the respondents (98.9%) were able to mention at least one
symptom of malaria. Mosquito as a cause of malaria was recognized by majority of the
respondents (72.6%). Most of the households (79.4%) had insecticide-treated net (ITN) with
utilization of 52%, the indoor residual spray coverage and re-plastering rate of the sprayed
houses were, 85.4% and 17.9% respectively. There was statistically significant association of
high malaria knowledge score with educational status (Adjusted OR 0.497, 95% CI 0.2970.832).
In addition adult age group specially 30-40yrs and owning radio at home were
significantly associated with treatment seeking behavior with in 24hrs (Adjusted OR: 2.609,
95% CI 1. (1.131-6.019) and OR: 1.810(95% CI 1.014-3.233) respectively. Age group among
respondents was observed statistically significant when the dependent variable was the use of ITN with (Crude OR=3.960, 95%CI 2.237-7.011) for age group <30yrs and also remain
statistically significant after adjusting for confounding variables by multi-variate analysis with
(Adjusted OR=3.122, 95% CI (1.557-7.6.257). The finding shows utilization of ITNs among
younger age groups was almost 4 fold than those who were at old age groups.
Conclusion: The findings of this study shows, study community have good knowledge on both
malaria and its control interventions. Moreover the attitude of the study community towards the
available intervention is found to be good. However, the study findings reveal that the practice of
the study community on the use of other available intervention strategies is low.
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Keywords
Malaria