Knowledge, Attitude and Perceptions of Residents of a Slum Area of Lagos State, Nigeria on Malaria.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: One-fourth of malaria morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa occurs in Nigeria. It accounts for about 63% of visits to public health facilities, 30% of hospital admissions, 29% of childhood death, 25% of infant mortality and 11% of maternal mortality. It is responsible for 70% of outpatient attendance at the secondary healthcare facilities and over 80% of all tracer diseases reported by primary healthcare facilities in Lagos State. METHODS: We administered structured questionnaires to 423 residents of Makoko slum area of Lagos, to collect demographics, assess their knowledge about malaria & attitudes that aid the spread, knowledge concerning Malaria Home management and Malaria health seeking behaviours. RESULTS: Sixty-nine percent (69.3%) were females, 18.4% of who were pregnant. 48.2% of respondents have children < 5 years old. Number of children < 5 years in the households ranged from one to six. Fifty four percent (54%) have at least one attack of malaria annually , 37.9% have 2-3 attacks annually. 74.2% had had malaria within the year, 96.5% of who treated it. Of these, 58.2% used par-acetamol, 42.3% local herbs, 21.7% chloroquine. Only 10.2% used (the Government recommended) Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACTs); 66.5% of those that had malaria were self diagnosed while 23.4% went to hospital; 75.3% do not sleep under nets;