THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF MALARIA PREVENTION AMONG CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS ADMITTED TO STATE HOSPITAL, OTA OGUN STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY: Malaria is one of the most serious health problems facing the world today. The World Health Organization estimates that over 300 million new cases of malaria arise a year, with approximately two to three million deaths resulting from contraction. Malaria is endemic in tropical Africa, with an estimated 90% of the total malaria incidence and deaths occurring there, particularly amongst pregnant women and children. More specifically, malaria is causing various problems in Nigeria. Malaria is the only vector borne disease to be placed on World Health Organization’s Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYS ) list. It is important to look at health problems like malaria that grossly affect the morbidity and mortality rates, as well as the economy of a developing country, such as Nigeria. Nigeria has a population of about 190.9 million people [Worldometer, 2017]. A large percentage of its population lives in extreme poverty in rural areas, without access to potable water and adequate healthcare. Nigeria is also a low-income country already saddled with a huge foreign debt burden. It risks sinking further into debt as it struggles with a sick populace whose good health is essential for its economic growth. Traditionally, Chloroquine was a common treatment for Malaria. However, with the increase in chloroquine resistant malaria, additional methods of control must be employed. A multidimensional approach should be used in the control strategy, such as good management of clinical malaria, the use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITBN), education and training programs in malaria prevention, vaccine research and the use of insecticide spraying such as DDT on breeding sites. It is also necessary to explore the use of indigenous natural mosquito repellant plant species. Pharmaceutical companies should study local anti-malarial herbs to determine their efficacy on malaria and effective and safe dosages should be found. The answer to malaria control may lie within local communities. Policies pertaining to the use of impregnated (soaked in insecticide) bed nets would be doubly advantageous and economical in rural areas. Culturally, the two most susceptible groups of people, pregnant mothers and infant children, tend to sleep together. Walls of mud huts in rural areas should be white washed to avoid attracting mosquitoes. Cracks and crevices where stagnant water can collect should be sealed. Partial funding for malaria control projects could be generated internally if the Nigerian government collected a levy from companies that are involved in activities that pollute the environment. Oil companies working in the Niger Delta areas, where there are many marshy swamps and a high prevalence of malaria, should also be asked to contribute to a general malaria control fund.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Malaria may be conceptually simple to eradicate, but operationally complex. In theory, all it takes to stop mosquitoes from transmitting malaria parasites is a physical barrier (insecticide-treated bed nets, ITNs) between the human host and mosquito and a course of pills that costs pennies to reduce the reservoir of infections in human carriers. This notion is the foundational principle for the current global agenda on malaria eradication which has embraced a three-legged, vector-control approach consisting of distribution of long-lasting insecticide nets, indoor residual spraying and community education for people to understand the importance of sleeping under treated mosquito nets. Although huge investments of human and financial resources and many randomized control trials have been conducted on the first two legs of the vector control framework, malaria eradication remains an unattainable goal in many African communities.

Malaria can be conceptually simple to eradicate, but operationally complex. In theory, all that is needed to prevent mosquitoes from transmitting malaria parasites is a physical barrier (insecticide-treated mosquito nets, insecticide-treated mosquito nets) between the human host and the mosquito, and a pill that costs some little amount to reduce the reservoir of infections in human carriers. This concept is the underlying premise of the current global malaria eradication program, which is based on a three-legged vector control strategy for dispersing prolonged insecticide nets, spraying inland debris, and raising awareness of the importance of sleeping under external mosquito nets. Although large investments in human and financial resources and numerous randomized controlled trials have been carried out in the first two steps of the vector control framework, the eradication of malaria remains an unattainable goal in many African communities. However, the focus of this work is to assess the knowledge and practice of malaria prevention among caregivers of patients.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the awareness and effective practice of malaria prevention among caregivers of patients in state hospital, Ota Ogun state, specifically, the objectives are:

1. To evaluate malaria awareness level of Caregivers in state hospital Ota
2. To determine malaria prevention practice of caregivers in state hospital Ota
3. To determine the relationship that exists between knowledge and practice of malaria prevention among caregivers of patients.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is quite significant in that it further presents the truth that malaria still makes the top list on deadliest infection suffered by Nigerians. Hence, there is need to continue the fight against malaria. Also, to the caregivers, the study presents evidence on their awareness and practice level. This is to enable them step up their preventive measures. The study also, is a contribution to academics as it serves as a reference material to further studies.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions guides the study:

1. What is the malaria Prevention awareness level of caregivers in state hospital, Ota?
2. Do caregivers in state hospital Ota imbibe effective malaria prevention practice?
3. Is Malaria prevention practice a result of malaria knowledge?

1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

The study formulated for testing a null hypothesis

H0: There is no relationship between the knowledge and practice of malaria Prevention among caregivers of patients.

1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF STUDY

This study is centered on Malaria as a health challenge and caregivers as the closest persons to the sick. The idea is to examine their knowledge of this health challenge and to determine their prevention practice ability.  This study was carried out in state hospital Ota, Ogun state, where the caregivers participated in the study.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

Caregiver: a family member or paid helper who regularly looks after a child or a sick, elderly, or disabled person.

Malaria: an intermittent and remittent fever caused by a protozoan parasite which invades the red blood cells and is transmitted by mosquitoes in many tropical and subtropical regions.

Knowledge: Knowledge is a familiarity, awareness, or understanding of someone or something, such as facts, information, descriptions, or skills, which is acquired through experience or education by perceiving, discovering, or learning.

Practice: the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it