Open AccessKnowledge and practice of malaria prevention among caregivers of children with malaria admitted to a teaching hospital in Ghana
Author(s) -
Emmanuel Ameyaw,
Joslin Dogbe,
Michael Owusu
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
asian pacific journal of tropical disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.208
H-Index - 33
ISSN - 2222-1808
DOI - 10.1016/s2222-1808(15)60908-2
Subject(s) - malaria , teaching hospital , malaria prevention , medicine , pediatrics , family medicine , environmental health , health services , immunology , population
Objective: To assess the knowledge and practice of malaria prevention among caregivers of\udchildren admitted to a teaching hospital in Ghana.\udMethods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on caregivers of children who\udwere hospitalized at the paediatric wards of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from March\ud2009 to June 2009. Data were analysed using StataTM version 8.2.\udResults: Nearly all caregivers (97.1%) had heard of malaria. Of this proportion, 89.7% knew\udmosquito bite as a cause of malaria. The proportion of caregivers who were able to recognise\udthe signs and symptoms of malaria were 87.6% (for fever), 47.1% (for vomiting) and 28.1%\ud(for headache). Radio and television were the major sources of information about malaria.\udConclusions: Caregivers of children have adequate knowledge about malaria and its mode of\udtransmission. Further education on the implementation of the preventive methods is still needed\udto help reduce the incidence of malaria among children