Malaria prevention practices and associated factors among households of Hawassa City Administration, Southern Ethiopia, 2020

Abstract

Background Despite it is easily preventable; malaria is still remains to be a major public health problem in globally as well as in Ethiopia. The disease can be easily prevented through individual and societal combined efforts by keeping the environment safe, effective utilization of long lasting Insecticide Nets and early treatment. However, the factors for poor knowledge and practices of malaria prevention is not well studied in Ethiopia; particularly, in the study area. Hence, this study aimed to provide concrete evidence towards malaria prevention practices and associated factors among Households of Hawassa City Administration, Southern Ethiopia, 2020. Method A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a randomly selected 598 households at Hawassa City Administration from April 1–15, 2020. Multistage sampling technique was employed to recruit the study households. Data were collected by trained data collectors through a face-to-face interview with pretested structured questionnaire, which was adapted from previous peer reviewed articles. Then the data were checked for the completeness and consistencies, then, coded and entered into Epi data 3.1 and it was exported to SPSS IBM version 23 for analysis. Descriptive mean with standard deviation was used to summarize the continuous variables. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess factors affecting prevention and control of Malaria. Finally, adjusted odds ratio together with 95% CI and p-value <0.05 was used to declare the statistical significances. Results The overall 317 (54.3%) of households practiced good measure of malaria prevention and control measures. Urban residence [AOR = 1.95 (95%CI: 1.17–3.24)], Secondary school completed [AOR = 5.02(95%CI 2.24–12.03)], Tertiary school completed [AOR = 7.27(95%CI: 2.84–18.55)], Positive Attitude [AOR = 8.20(95%CI: 5.31–12.68)] and Good knowledge about malaria [AOR = 2.81(95%CI: 1.78–4.44)] were significantly associated with malaria prevention practices. Conclusions Nearly half of the households were still practiced poor measure of malaria prevention and control measures. Hence, health officials and stake holders need attention by providing continuous health education and follow up to control malaria.

Malaria prevention knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among adolescents living in an area of persistent transmission in Senegal: Results from a cross-sectional study

“…The odds of having a good prevention practice was 2 folds higher among adolescents with a positive attitude, as compared to those with a negative attitude. This finding is consistent with those indicated in studies conducted in Ethiopia [40,49] and could be explained by the fact that the perception of the susceptibility and the threat related to malaria, and the belief in the effectiveness of the methods to avoid the disease can motivate the decision to act and adhere to prevention measures [58,59]. This could also be explained as an increase in knowledge and favorable attitudes of an individual towards a disease, its risk factor, its seriousness, its mechanism of prevention, will lead to an increase in the probability of practicing preventive measures [40].…”

“…This finding is consistent with those indicated in studies conducted in Ethiopia [40,49] and could be explained by the fact that the perception of the susceptibility and the threat related to malaria, and the belief in the effectiveness of the methods to avoid the disease can motivate the decision to act and adhere to prevention measures [58,59]. This could also be explained as an increase in knowledge and favorable attitudes of an individual towards a disease, its risk factor, its seriousness, its mechanism of prevention, will lead to an increase in the probability of practicing preventive measures [40]. Furthermore, the odds of applying a good practice of prevention is around 2 times higher in adolescents whose household head has a koranic education level compared to those with no education.…”

“…Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess factors that are related to adolescents' malaria-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices with cluster robust standard error to account for the study design. Variables with a p <=0.25 in the bivariate analysis, were introduced in the multivariable regression models [38,40]. Odds ratios of these models were derived from the final model with 95% confidence interval (CI).…”

Knowledge and practices surrounding malaria and LLIN use among Arab, Dazagada and Fulani pastoral nomads in Chad

“…In addition, as highlighted by theories of health behavior change [ 37 ], both ownership of mosquito net and the knowledge have been translated into its use. These results are in concordance with findings from other studies that demonstrated the association between malaria knowledge with preventive behaviors’ related to malaria in sub–Saharan Africa [ 27 , 28 ]. However, more than half of nomads surveyed go under mosquito net later than the recommended time.…”

“…Though, ownership of LLINs does not guarantee their use due to behavioral factors [ 27 ]. Evidence shows that, LLIN use is driven by users’ knowledge, the household’s economic status, the size of household [ 27 , 28 ], the rainy season and presence of mosquitoes [ 29 – 31 ]. The identification of factors which predict demand for mosquito net among nomads would allow the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) to tailor interventions to control malaria among this group and meet their specific needs.…”