scholarly journals Malaria: Knowledge and prevention practices among school adolescents in a coastal community in Calabar, Nigeria

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ndifreke E. Udonwa ◽  
Abraham N. Gyuse ◽  
Aniekan J. Etokidem
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
School Children ◽  
Malaria Control ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Malaria Prevention ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Insecticide Treated Nets ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Coastal Community

Background: Malaria prevention and treatment constitute an unbearable economic burden to most African countries, especially south of the Sahara, where about 500 million cases occur annually. The problem of malaria among adolescents has largely been overshadowed by the huge burden of the disease among young children. Attention to malaria among adolescents has also been diverted by the huge burden of HIV/AIDS among adolescents. Some surveys reveal a lack of knowledge and many misconceptions about the transmission and treatment of malaria, which could adversely affect malaria control measures and antimalarial therapy. Such a knowledge gap could have an adverse effect on school children, who could be used as change agents and as role models for their siblings and peers in the malaria control strategy.Objectives: To determine the malaria prevention practices of school adolescents in the coastal community of Calabar, Nigeria.Method: This was a cross-sectional survey involving secondary schools in southern Calabar. Four hundred adolescents were randomly selected from the 4565 learners in 5 out of 17 secondary schools in southern Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. A self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the respondents.Results: Most respondents (77.5%) were aware that the vector transmits the malaria parasite through biting. Fewer respondents would prevent malaria attacks by clearing the vegetation in the peri-domestic environment (13.5%), filling up potholes (16.9%), opening up drainage (11%), using insecticide-treated nets (25.7%) or using antimalarial drugs (11.2%). Less than one-tenth (8%) would use various other methods such as not accepting unscreened blood, while only 11% obtained the information from their teachers.Conclusion: The study identified knowledge gaps among school children. There is a need to empower teachers with information about the cause of malaria and prevention strategies.

scholarly journals VACCINATION AGAINST MALARIA: REALITY AND PERSPECTIVES

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 153-156
Author(s):  
S. K Litvinov ◽  
A. M Bronshteyn ◽  
E. N Morozov
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Control ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
World Health ◽  
European Medicines Agency ◽  
Morbidity Rate ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Protein Vaccine ◽  
Insecticide Treated Nets ◽  
African Countries

Malaria continues to be a major international public health problem. However a significant reduction in the morbidity rate has been achieved over the past decade. The effective vaccine against malaria, caused by P. falciparun, could contribute significantly to the prevention and control of the disease, as tropical malaria is most widely distributed in the world. Nowadays there is the only RTS,S/AS01 vaccine had passed the accomplished phase 3 of clinical trial and received endorsement of certain bodies of World Health Organization and European Medicines Agency. RTS,S/AS01 is a pre-erythrocytic hybrid recombinant protein vaccine. Both immunogenicity and effectiveness of this vaccine particularly in children aged of 5-12 months were demonstrated by the trial at the time for first vaccination. Vaccine should be administered 3 times as the initial series of inoculation with 4 weeks interval and then the 4th dose should be given 15-18 months later. Since there is still a number of issues required certain clarifications, the decision has been taken to undertake another relatively large pilot project in African countries, prior to final recommendations on the vaccine use could be developed and proposed to countries. The implementation of this new trial will definitely take appropriate time. The contribution of vaccine to malaria control might be significant only if used simultaneously with other proved malaria control measures, such as the use of insecticide-treated nets, detection of malaria cases with the use of rapid diagnostic tests and subsequent its treatment, chemoprevention when appropriate and, of course vector control. The consideration of the vaccine use as the mechanism, which should allow achieve the eradication of the disease is not appropriate in principle.

scholarly journals A Household-Based Cross-Sectional Survey of Knowledge, Awareness and Practice Regarding Malaria in Western Area Rural District, Sierra Leone

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Wang ◽  
Jianhai Yin ◽  
Canjun Zheng ◽  
Samuel Juana Smith ◽  
Esther Ngegba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Malaria Prevention ◽  
Rural District ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Western Area ◽  
Route Of Transmission

Sierra Leone is a highly endemic area for malaria, and the implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2016–2020) has reached its midpoint in 2018. To provide more specific guidance for interventions in the future, a household-based cross-sectional survey was conducted to elucidate the knowledge, awareness and practices regarding malaria and malarial control measures among the general public. Three communities (Grafton, Jui, and Kossoh) in the Western Area Rural District that were in close proximity to Sierra Leone's capital city of Freetown were included. Households were randomly selected and interviewed with a structured questionnaire covering malaria infection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, as well as knowledge of malaria prevention. As a result, a total of 262 qualified questionnaires were included. The average cost for meals per day is ~30,000 Leones in each household. The rate of awareness, indicated by reporting having heard of malaria, was 98.1% (257/262), and 86.6% (227/262) of the respondents knew that mosquito bites are the main route of transmission. In addition, 80.9% (212/262) of the respondents sought health advice or treatment for the illness, and a similar percentage of respondents had been tested for malaria, mostly with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). A high demand for long-lasting insecticidal nets (72.1%) matched the serious shortage (61.8%, 162/262), and of the households that reported a lack of nets, 66 had children younger than 5 years old. In conclusion, public awareness of malaria prevention is high, based on this survey, although there was a limited use of preventive measures in these three communities and the malaria burden was still high. Therefore, the public's knowledge of malaria should be sustained and reinforced, and the distribution and use of malaria prevention measures should be promoted to supprt the achievement of the planned objectives.

scholarly journals Anopheline Mosquitoes and the Malaria Scourge

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 31-40
Author(s):  
Ozioma Forstinus Nwabor
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Prevention ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Insecticide Treated Nets ◽  
Anopheline Mosquito ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Dreaded Disease ◽  
And Control ◽  
Anopheline Mosquitoes ◽  
New Strategies

The high prevalence of malaria in Africa has defiled many strategies aimed at its eradication. Researchers from various fields have tried without success in this fight against mosquito and its malaria disease. Annually billions of dollars are spent in the design of programs which are aimed at combating this dreaded disease. However all this spending seems to go down the drain as malaria and its vector mosquitoes celebrate their unflinching victory. Current control measures focusing on ways of preventing the disease vis-a-vis, protect man from the vectors “anopheline mosquito” are the mainstay of malaria prevention and control. Many of these control measures are operational with each contributing in its little way. The use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITN) and Indoor Residual Sprays (IRS) are well established strategies with global recognition and currently ongoing in Africa. However, as a result of shortcomings in these major control measures, new strategies with hopes of blissful success are been sought after. Larviciding (abortion of metamorphosis) and constant and adequate environmental sanitation seems to be the next option available for use. This article therefore takes a look at the vector-anopheline mosquito, its ecology, productivity and distribution. It also considers malaria and the various control and preventive measures currently targeted at its eradication.

scholarly journals PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PRACTICES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR MALARIA CONTROL IN MUKONO DISTRICT UGANDA

2008 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. MBONYE ◽  
I. C. BYGBJERG ◽  
P. MAGNUSSEN
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Control ◽  
Indoor Residual Spraying ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Malaria Treatment ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
Insecticide Treated Nets ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mukono District

SummaryAvailable data in Uganda indicate a resurgence of malaria morbidity and mortality countrywide. This study assessed the burden of malaria, treatment and prevention practices in order initiate a policy debate on the scaling-up of current interventions. A triangulation of methods using a cross-sectional survey and key informant interviews was used to assess self-reported malaria at a household level in Mukono District, Uganda. A total of 5583 households were surveyed, and a high proportion (2897, 51·9%) reported a person with malaria two weeks prior to the survey. Only 546 households (9·8%) owned and used insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) for malaria prevention. Similarly, only a few households (86, 1·5%) used indoor residual spraying. Self-treatment with home-stocked drugs was high, yet there was low awareness of the effectiveness of expired drugs on malaria treatment. Self-reported malaria was associated with socioeconomic, behavioural and environmental factors, but more especially with household ownership of ITNs. These results will contribute to the current debate on identifying new approaches for scaling-up prevention interventions and effective case management, as well as selection of priority interventions for malaria control in Uganda.

UTILIZATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MALARIA PREVENTION METHODS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN TERTIARY HOSPITAL SITUATED IN RURAL COMMUNITY OF EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

2021 ◽  
pp. 6-9
Author(s):  
Azeez Oyemomi Ibrahim ◽  
Tosin Anthony Agbesanwa ◽  
Olabode Muftau Shabi ◽  
Kayode Ebenezer Ariyibi ◽  
Ayodele Kamal Alabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Indoor Residual Spray ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Malaria Prevention ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Malaria Parasitaemia ◽  
Insecticide Treated Nets ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Prevention Methods

Background: National surveys indicate that among countries in Africa where malaria is endemic, Nigeria alone accounts for 21% of pregnancies that are unprotected from malaria. This study aimed to ascertain the extent of utilization and effectiveness of malaria prevention methods, found out the existing relationship between maternal parasitaemia and the effectiveness of these methods at (p<0.05) level of signicance.Methods: The study was a cross sectional survey involving 264 consenting pregnant women who were recruited at booking clinic at Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido -Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on their socio-demographic characteristics, mode and extent of utilization of malaria prevention methods and their effectiveness. Venous blood samples were collected and analyzed for malaria parasitaemia using the microscopy. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 Results:The malaria prevention methods most commonly reported as being effective were the Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs), Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) or both, which were utilized by 97(36.5%), 79 (30.0%) and 88 (33.4%) participants respectively. Eight (8.3%), 9 (10.8%), and 7 (7.9%) of the participants that used ITNs, IRS or both combination respectively tested positive for malaria parasitaemia. There was a statistically signicant association between maternal parasitaemia and malaria prevention methods using ITNs (p=0.001), IRS (p = 0.001) or both (p = 0.001).Conclusion: The most commonly adopted malaria prevention methods were ITNs, Indoor Residual Spray or both. Despite their protective effectiveness, their utilizations are still poor. Information and communication strategies by the stakeholders are suggested to improve the utilization of these methods as adopted by other countries.

scholarly journals Life-style of Rural Secondary School Children in Bangladesh with Particular Emphasis to Physical Exercise and Diet

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 39-47
Author(s):  
Md Nurul Amin ◽  
Md Jawadul Haque ◽  
Md Entekhab Ul Alam ◽  
Shathi Kumar Rawson Kamal Md Abu Syem Shah Amanath Ullah ◽  
Nelofar Yasmin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
School Children ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Dietary Behavior ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Healthy Diet ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Socioeconomic Condition ◽  
Balanced Diet

Background & objective: With rapid improvement of socioeconomic condition of developing countries in the last two decades, a rapid change in the nutritional behaviour and activity of adolescents is evident leading to increased prevalence of overweight and obesity among them. The present cross-sectional survey was undertaken to evaluate the dietary and exercise behavior of the adolescents studying in rural secondary schools. Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Community Medicine, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi from April-May 2019. Data were collected from secondary schools of Puthia. A total of 535 students from two secondary schools participated in the study. In order to ensure an equal representation from both sexes we chose one boys‟ and one girls‟ schools. Every alternate students of those schools from class VI-X were then included in study as respondents. Weight and height of the selected students were first taken followed by interview. Result: In the present study 15% of the secondary school children were found underweight and 18% were overweight or obese. About 65% of the of the respondents‟ family were more or less financially solvent. Fifty percent of the adolescents reported that they were accustomed to a healthy balanced diet with 45% reportedly taking fruits and 60% taking plenty of vegetables every day. But only 17.3% took 3 or more servings of fruits a day (the minimum recommended fruit intake). Thirty percent of the adolescents were used to having high carbohydrate and fat. In terms of exercise practice, two-thirds (67.3%) of the students had healthy practice. The predominantly practiced exercise was running (65%) followed by cycling (64.4%), playing cricket (63.6%), football (57.2%) and fast walking (52.2%). However, with respect to number of days of exercise in a week and duration of exercise each day a sizable portion of the students‟ practice was not considered an ideal one. The respondents who did not practice any kinds of exercise or sports activities, most frequently mentioned their „preoccupation with coaching or private tutors‟ (79.4%) as reasons of inactivity, followed by non-encouragement about playing by their parents (71.4%) and teachers (65.5%). Nearly 60% were interested to play but they did not have any playing field nearby home. Nearly one-third of the students pass  > 1 hour of their leisure time by watching TV or sitting at computer or playing games or other activities on mobile. Opinion-seeking questionnaire revealed that 20-50% of the respondents had misconception on healthy diet, food, energy-rich food, balanced diet and their ability to make a healthy choice for food in any one of these food & diet-related issues. Boys are more likely to be obese and underweight than the girls. Conclusion: Unhealthy dietary behavior is widespread among secondary school adolescents in rural area. About one-third of the rural secondary school children are physically inactive and predominant reasons of their inactivity are preoccupation with coaching center or private tutors or no incentive for playing from the parents or teachers. The knowledge level of the students on healthy diet and food is not up to the desired level to make healthy choices for food themselves. Both unhealthy dietary behavior & inactivity might have contributed to inappreciably adverse nutritional status of the secondary level school children. Ibrahim Card Med J 2018; 8 (1&2): 39-47

scholarly journals Malaria prevention knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Zambezia Province, Mozambique

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana de Sousa Pinto ◽  
Jorge A. H. Arroz ◽  
Maria do Rosário O. Martins ◽  
Zulmira Hartz ◽  
Nuria Negrao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Intermittent Preventive Treatment ◽  
Malaria Prevention ◽  
Insecticide Treated Nets ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Prevention Messages

Abstract Background In Mozambique, socio-economic and cultural factors influence the wide adoption of disease preventive measures that are relevant for malaria control strategies to promote early recognition of disease, prompt seeking of medical care, sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and taking intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women. However, there is a critical information gap regarding previous and ongoing malaria social and behavioural change (SBC) interventions. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices of beneficiaries of SBC interventions. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 2018 in two rural districts of Zambezia Province, Mozambique. A structured questionnaire was administered to 773 randomly selected households. Respondents were the adult heads of the households. Descriptive statistics were done. Results The main results show that 96.4% of respondents recalled hearing about malaria in the previous 6 months, 90.0% had knowledge of malaria prevention, and 70.0% of preventive measures. Of the 97.7% respondents that had received ITNs through a mass ITN distribution campaign, 81.7% had slept under an ITN the night before the survey. In terms of source of health information, 70.5% mentioned the role of community volunteers in dissemination of malaria prevention messages, 76.1% of respondents considered worship places (churches and mosques) to be the main places where they heard key malaria prevention messages, and 79.1% asserted that community dialogue sessions helped them better understand how to prevent malaria. Conclusions Results show that volunteers/activists/teachers played an important role in dissemination of key malaria prevention messages, which brought the following successes: community actors are recognized and people have knowledge of malaria transmission, signs and symptoms, preventive measures, and where to get treatment. There is, however, room for improvement on SBC messaging regarding some malaria symptoms (anaemia and convulsions) and operational research is needed to ascertain the drivers of malaria prevalence and inform the SBC approach.

scholarly journals The decline of malaria in Vietnam, 1991-2014

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra M Goldlust ◽  
Phung Duc Thuan ◽  
Dang Duy Hoang Giang ◽  
Ngo Duc Thang ◽  
Guy E Thwaites ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Management ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Malaria Control ◽  
Malaria Incidence ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Combination Therapies ◽  
Insecticide Treated Nets

AbstractA central component of malaria control initiatives throughout the world is the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) for treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparium malaria. Despite the well-documented clinical efficacy of ACTs, the population-level effects of ACT case management on malaria transmission have not been studied thoroughly until recently. An ideal case study for the population-level effects of artemisinin use can be found in Vietnam, where a major increase of malaria cases in the 1980s was followed by the gradual adoption of artemisinin-based clinical case management. We assembled annual data from Vietnam’s National Institutes for Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology showing the degree to which artemisinin therapies were adopted in different provinces, the effort placed on vector control, and the funding available to provincial malaria control programs, from 1991 to 2014. Data on urbanization were also collected for this period. We found that a 10% increase in the artemisinin proportion of treatments procured by a provincial control program corresponded to a 32.8% (95% CI: 27.7 – 37.5%) decline in estimated malaria cases; the association persisted and the effect size was nearly unchanged if confirmed cases or suspected cases were used. There was no consistent effect of vector control on malaria cases in Vietnam as a whole, nor was any effect found when the data were broken up regionally. The association between urbanization and malaria was generally negative and sometimes statistically significant. This was most pronounced in the central region of Vietnam, where a 10% increase in urbanization corresponded to a 43.3% (95% CI: 21.6 – 58.9%) decrease in suspected malaria incidence; this association was not statistically significant if confirmed cases or estimated cases were used. The decline of malaria in Vietnam from 1991 to 2014 can largely be attributed to the rapid adoption of artemisinin-based drugs. Recent analyses of aggregated data from Africa have shown that insecticide-treated nets have had the greatest effect on lowering malaria prevalence over the past fifteen years, suggesting that the success of different types of malaria interventions is region specific. Continuing global efforts on malaria elimination should focus on both vector control measures and increased access to artemisinin-combination therapies.

scholarly journals Challenges and opportunities for use of long-lasting insecticidal nets to prevent malaria during overnight travel in Uganda: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Ekusai-Sebatta ◽  
Emmanuel Arinaitwe ◽  
Arthur Mpimbaza ◽  
Joaniter I. Nankabirwa ◽  
Chris Drakeley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Control ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Malaria Prevention ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Malaria Burden ◽  
Social Events ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets

Abstract Background Travel is a well-recognized risk factor for malaria. Within sub-Saharan Africa, travellers from areas of lower to higher transmission intensity are potentially at high risk of malaria. Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are the primary tool for prevention of malaria, and their widespread use has contributed to substantial reductions in malaria burden. However, travellers often fail to use LLINs. To further explore the challenges and opportunities of using LLINs, travellers were interviewed in Uganda. Methods In August and September 2019, 20 participants attending outpatient clinics at Naguru General Hospital in Kampala with a history of travel out of Kampala within the previous 60 days were purposively selected. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analysed thematically using NVivo 12. Results Of the 20 participants, 13 were male. Thirteen of the 20 participants tested positive for malaria by microscopy, and 5 reported using of LLINs during travel. The main reasons for travel were to attend social events (weddings, funerals, overnight prayers) and for work. travellers who attended social events reported using LLINs less commonly than those who travelled for work. Challenges to using LLINs during travel included: (1) limited access to LLINs; (2) challenges in planning ahead of travel; (3) lack of space or ability to hang LLINs while travelling; (4) impression that LLINs in lodging places were unhygienic; (5) cultural beliefs discouraging use of LLINs during social events; (6) participation in overnight ceremonies; and (7) doubts about efficacy of LLINs. Positive factors influencing use of LLINs during travel included knowledge regarding malaria prevention and good affordability and availability of LLINs. Conclusions Despite good traveller knowledge regarding malaria control measures, use of LLINs was limited. Use of LLINs in the prevention of malaria among travellers from low to high transmission settings needs to be prioritized. This calls for increased behaviour change oriented communication to improve traveller preparedness and consideration of use of repellents in situations where LLINs may not be feasible. The Uganda Ministry of Health and Malaria Control Division should use educational messages to increase awareness about the risks of getting malaria during overnight travel through the media. Truck drivers should be sensitized through their companies to use the available space at the back of the trucks for hanging nets and consider using pop-up nets.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document