Abstract

THE RESPONDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE LEVELS ON MALARIA AND MALARIA CONTROL IN SAMFYA DISTRICT, ZAMBIA.

Cecilia K Muchepa Muzyamba

Volume: 7 Issue: 3 2017

Abstract:

Collins (2009:430), [1], defined knowledge as “the facts or experiences known by a person or a group of people” [1]. These were acquired, and in most cases benefitted the children, women, men, the community and the country at large. This therefore was the more reason for the study on the people’s knowledge levels on malaria and malaria control in Samfya District, Zambia. Random and non-random research designs were used to obtain the sample and data for the study. There were 394 respondents, 3 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 11 key informants. The resultson the levels of knowledgeon malaria and malaria control was evidenced in the questionnaires and the FGDs. These showed the causes, transmission, treatment and prevention of malaria. The following were identified as the causes of malaria: mosquito (86%), dirty environments (2.5%), dirty water (1.0%), air borne (0.8%), fever (0.5%) and growing crops near homes (0.3%). The transmission of malaria was done through the bite of a mosquito (79.4%), sharing beddings (1.8%), water (1.3%), air (1.0%) and the rest did not know how the disease was transmitted. The treatment seeking behaviours of the respondents were: health care facility (81.5%), CHWs (10.2%), traditional healers (1.3%), drug peddlers (1.3%) and local herbs (5.3%). Those that sought treatment from the health facility or the CHWs were appropriately diagnosed before any drugs were prescribed and dispensed. Depending on the results of the blood test, the patient was either given analgesics or ACT as a first line treatment therapy. The respondents’ knowledge on the prevention of malaria was established by assessing various personal protection measures. And these were: burning leaves at night (5.6%), close windows and doors (3.6%), mosquito sprays (3.8%), mosquito coils (4.8%) and mosquito nets (65.5%). The respondents’ levels of knowledge on the causes, transmission, treatment and prevention of malaria varied. On the whole however, there were 64% of the respondents with inadequate and 36% with adequate knowledge on malaria and malaria control. There was a relationshipof the knowledge levels on the causes, transmission, treatment and prevention of malaria and malaria control with the persistent levels of malaria in Samfya District in Zambia.

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