Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice About Malaria: Socio-Demographic Implications for Malaria Control in Rural Ghana Publisher Pubmed



Assan A^{1, 2, 3} ; Takian A^{1, 2, 4, 5} ; Hanafibojd AA⁶ ; Rahimiforoushani A⁷ ; Nematolahi S⁷
Source: Journal of Public Health Policy Published:2017

Abstract

Despite continuing international attention to malaria prevention, the disease remains a global public health problem. We investigated socio-demographic factors influencing knowledge, attitudes, and practices about malaria in rural Ghana. Our survey looked at 354 households. Mean knowledge score was higher among individuals with a history of volunteers having visited their households to educate them about malaria; families with 4-6 members; and males. Households with at least one under-five-aged child also had significantly higher knowledge scores. Households with at least one pregnant woman evinced a positive attitude towards malaria prevention. National malaria control strategies have achieved positive results in the fight against malaria. Nonetheless, multipronged community-based health strategies that integrate malaria programs and population growth control initiatives may be able to reach by 2030 the sustainable development goal of eliminating malaria. © 2017 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.