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

Malaria Journal

the UHAS-Yonsei Project Team¹  So Yoo Kim²  Siwoo Kim²  Hajun Jung²  Kennedy Diema Konlan³  Robert Kaba Alhassan⁴  Eunji Kim⁵  John Owusu Gyapong⁶  Raymond Saa-Eru Maalman⁷  Barbara Yordanis Henandez Ceruantes⁷  Verner N. Orish⁷  Otchere Y. Donkor⁷  Jones Ofori-Amoah⁷  Hadiru Mumuni⁸  Ernestina Safoa Donkor⁸  Francis Bruno Zottor⁹  Hubert Amu⁹  Paul Amuna⁹  Margaret Kweku⁹  Philip Kofie⁹  Prince Kubi Appiah⁹  Martin Adjuik⁹  Eric Osei⁹ 

[1]

[2]Asian Institute for Bioethics and Health Law, College of Medicine, Yonsei University

[3]Department of Public Health Graduate School, Yonsei University

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

[5]Korea Foundation for International Healthcare Ghana Office

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

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

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

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

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

DOI  :  10.1186/s12936-021-03986-7

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Malaria 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. Methods This 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. Results Out 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. Conclusion There 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】

Unknown