KNOWLEDGE, ATITTUDES AND PRACTICES (KAP) OF MOTHERS/CARE GIVERS CONCERNING THE MANAGEMENT OF MALARIA IN CHILDREN AGED 5-17 YEARS AT NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Malaria in children is of great public health importance. The role of mothers/care givers in the management and control of malaria in children cannot be over emphasized.

Aim: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of Mothers/care givers concerning the management and control of malaria infection in children aged 5-17 years.

Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive; cross- sectional study.156 mothers/care givers who visited Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital with their children aged 5-17 years were randomly recruited. A structured questionnaire was interviewer- administered to capture information on biodata and level of awareness of certain aspects of malaria management and control.

Results: Majority (86.5%) of the participants were fully aware that malaria was caused by mosquito bites. Most of the participants (82.7%) were aware that insecticide treated bed nets (ITNs) were used to prevent malaria infection but only a few of them (19.2%) actually used ITNs regularly.  A reasonable fraction of the participants (14.7%) never owned or used ITNs. Most of the participants who did not use ITNs said that it caused excessive heat and made sleep uncomfortable while a very little fraction (1.3%) claimed that ITN disturbed their sleep at night. About hospital seeking habit, 17.9% of the mothers/care givers visited hospital each time their children felt sick while the majority (82.3%) did otherwise.

Conclusion/recommendation: The study concludes that whereas the knowledge of mothers/care givers was high, the attitudes and practices were poor probably due to misconceptions which were real or imaginary. Health education needs to be intensified to improve the situation and promote the health of the children.