Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of mothers regarding childhood malaria in southeastern Gabon

Malaria Journal

Research

Franck Mounioko¹  Sydney Maghendji-Nzondo²  Euloge Ibinga²  Edgard Brice Ngoungou²  Steede Seinnat Ontoua³  Alain Prince Okouga³  Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki⁴  Judicaël Boris Lendongo Wombo⁵  Chérone Nancy Mbani Mpega Ntigui⁶  Lydie Sandrine Oyegue-Liabagui⁷ 

[1] Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Masuku University of Science and Technology (USTM), Franceville, Gabon;Département d’Epidémiologie, Biostatistiques et Informatique Médicale (DEBIM), Unité de Recherche en Epidémiologie des Maladies Transmissibles Santé Environnement (UREMSCE), Université des Sciences de la Santé (USS), 4009, Owendo, BP, Gabon;Unit of Research in Health Ecology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Medical Research of Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon;Unit of Research in Health Ecology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Medical Research of Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon;Department of Parasitology, Health Science University (USS), 4009, Owendo, Libreville, BP, Gabon;Unit of Research in Health Ecology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Medical Research of Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon;Département d’Epidémiologie, Biostatistiques et Informatique Médicale (DEBIM), Unité de Recherche en Epidémiologie des Maladies Transmissibles Santé Environnement (UREMSCE), Université des Sciences de la Santé (USS), 4009, Owendo, BP, Gabon;Ecole Doctorale Régionale d’Afrique Centrale en Infectiologie Tropicale (ECODRAC), Franceville, Gabon;Unit of Research in Health Ecology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Medical Research of Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon;Ecole Doctorale Régionale d’Afrique Centrale en Infectiologie Tropicale (ECODRAC), Franceville, Gabon;Unit of Research in Health Ecology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Medical Research of Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon;Ecole Doctorale Régionale d’Afrique Centrale en Infectiologie Tropicale (ECODRAC), Franceville, Gabon;Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Masuku University of Science and Technology (USTM), Franceville, Gabon;

关键词: Malaria knowledge;    Malaria perception;    Malaria practices;    Maternal perception;    Community-based management;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12936-023-04584-5

 received in 2022-11-05, accepted in 2023-05-09,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn Gabon, children under 5 years of age and pregnant women are the populations who are most at risk of malaria. Despite the presence of accessible health facilities, the community-based management of childhood fever remains a very common practice in Gabon, which may have serious consequences on child health. As such, the objective of this descriptive cross-sectional survey is to assess the mothers’ perception and knowledge of malaria and its severity.MethodsDifferent households were selected using the simple random sampling method.ResultsA total of 146 mothers from different households were interviewed in the city of Franceville, in southern Gabon. Among the households interviewed, 75.3% had a low monthly income (below the minimum monthly income of $272.73). Among the respondents, 98.6% of mothers had heard of malaria and 55.5% had heard of severe malaria. Regarding preventive measures, 83.6% of mothers used an insecticide-treated net as a means of protection. Self-medication was practiced by 68.5% of women (100/146).DiscussionThe use of health facilities was motivated by better care, the decision of the head of the family, but above all by the severity of the disease. Women identified fever as the main symptom of malaria, which could be beneficial for a quicker and more efficient management of the disease in children. Malaria educational campaigns should also increase awareness of severe forms of malaria and its manifestations. This study shows that Gabonese mothers react quickly when their children have fever. However, several external factors lead them to practice self-medication as a first resort. In this survey population, the practice of self-medication did not depend on social status, marital status, level of education, on the young age or inexperience of mothers (p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe data revealed that mothers may underestimate severe malaria and delay medical care by self-medicating, which can have detrimental effects for children and hinder the regression of the disease.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

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