Assessing health-seeking behaviour and malaria prevention practices among communities in four districts of the Volta Region of Ghana

Malaria Journal

So Yoo Kim¹  Hajun Jung¹  Siwoo Kim¹  Kennedy Diema Konlan²  Robert Kaba Alhassan³  Eunji Kim⁴  John Owusu Gyapong⁵  Verner N. Orish⁶  Raymond Saa-Eru Maalman⁶  Barbara Yordanis Henandez Ceruantes⁶  Otchere Y. Donkor⁶  Jones Ofori-Amoah⁶  Hadiru Mumuni⁷  Ernestina Safoa Donkor⁷  Hubert Amu⁸  Martin Adjuik⁸  Paul Amuna⁸  Philip Kofie⁸  Margaret Kweku⁸  Francis Bruno Zottor⁸  Eric Osei⁹  Prince Kubi Appiah⁹ 

[1]Asian Institute for Bioethics and Health Law, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

[2]Department of Public Health Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

[3]School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

[4]Directorate of International Affairs, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

[5]Korea Foundation for International Healthcare Ghana Office, Accra, Ghana

[6]Office of the Vice-Chancellor, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

[7]School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

[8]School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

[9]School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana

[10]School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana

[11]Department of Public Health Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

关键词: Malaria;    Insecticide treated nets (ITNs);    Malaria prevention;    Control;    Sub-Saharan Africa;    Ghana;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12936-021-03986-7

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMalaria is a preventable disease that causes huge morbidity and mortality in malaria-endemic areas, especially among children and pregnant women. The malaria control programme focuses on the prevention of mosquito bites using insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and mosquito aerosol sprays and coils, as well as prevention of severe disease among those infected through prompt and adequate treatment. The success of the malaria control programme in Ghana is dependent on the malaria prevention practices of people in the community. Therefore, this study evaluated the malaria prevention practices of participants in four districts of the Volta Region of Ghana.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted in Ketu South, Nkwanta South, Hohoe Municipality and Ho West districts of the Volta Region of Ghana. Questionnaire were administered to adults who consented to each household visited. Questions were asked on the socio-demographics and malaria prevention practices of the households. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23 with frequency distribution done for all the variables. Pearson chi-square was used to determine the significant association between socio-demographics and malaria prevention practices, and Multivariate nominal logistic regression analysis was used to model the relationship between dichotomous dependent variables (ITN ownership and usage) and independent variables.ResultsOut of the 2493 participants; 2234 (89.6%) owned ITN and 1528 (68.4%) used ITN a night before this study, 768 (30.8%) used mosquito aerosol spray and 368 (15%) used mosquito coil. More females significantly owned ITN than males (1293, 92.4%, p ≤ 0.001). Participants from Ketu South had 1.5 times higher odds of owning an ITN compared to Ho West whose odds are not different from Nkwanta South or Hohoe (AOR, 1.56 [95% 1.09–2.22]; p = 0.01). In terms of ITN usage, participants in Nkwanta South were less likely to use ITN compared to the other districts; AOR, 0.434 [95% CI 0.31–0.62, p < 0.001]. Also, of the 668 participants that had a fever within the past 3 days, 268 (40.1%) visited a patent medicine store and 156 (23.4%) visited health facilities.ConclusionThere is high ownership of ITNs, but relatively low utilization among the community members. Education on malaria prevention practices should be intensified and continuous among the population of the Volta Region to ensure the success of malaria control in the region.

【 授权许可】

CC BY