Prevalence, Perception and Knowledge in the Management of Malaria Disease amongst the People of Kubwa, Abuja FCT, Nigeria

Abstract

There is a huge burden of malaria in Africa which cripples economic development of the continents. Malaria is endemic in all States in Nigeria including Abuja FCT.  The objective of the study is to determine Kubwa people`s knowledge and perception and prevalence of Malaria disease in Kubwa, Abuja, F.C.T. A simple random sampling technique was used on a sample of 500 (50% of the population) Kubwa residents, Abuja F.C.T using a questionnaire, in-depth interview and Focus Group Discussion. The findings reveal that 79.6% of the respondents have knowledge of malaria disease and its control strategies yet do not adhere to the preventive measures while 19.8% of the population does not have knowledge of malaria.  In assessing the relationship between residence and those that had malaria, (x²=5.058, df =4, P-value = 0.230>0.005). This then implies that prevalence of malaria in Kubwa among the residents in the last six months depended on other factors like presence of vector, poor environmental sanitation, lack of sleeping under mosquito treated nets, lack of use of insecticides etc. Overall It was concluded that Environmental management, sanitation/hygiene, and attitudinal change, play key role in malaria prevention and control not only of Kubwa residents but to Nigerians at large.