Abstract

INTRODUCTION:The sub-Saharan Africa has a high prevalence of malaria being one of the leading causes of mortality in the local population. This study were to investigate knowledge and attitude towards prevention, prevention strategies, vector control and materials needed for prevention. Five null hypotheses guided the study.

METHOD: This involved descriptive design and Focus Group Discussion FGD. The target and accessible population were 7862 and 1,534 residents from eight villages respectively. Subjects were 487 selected from 32 households using systematic random sampling. Questionnaire with Content Validity Index of .89 and test-retest reliability of .87 was used for data collection. FGDs involved 30 adults selected using purposive sampling. Descriptive data and hypotheses were analyzed using percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Chi-square respectively. FGD data involved thematic analysis in themes.

RESULTS: Majority 62.6% had good knowledge of malaria prevention and 61% had positive attitude towards prevention while 37.6% never adopted any protective strategy; About 57.1% were not involved in vector control. There was significant relationship between knowledge, attitude, and involvement in malaria prevention among subjects (p< 0.05). Gender was significantly associated with knowledge and involvement in prevention (p< 0.05) with males being better 35.3% and 26.3% than females 27.3% and 16.6% respectively; Vector control significantly differed based on educational status (p< 0.05) with Senior School Certificate holders better involved 11.9% than those with no formal education 6.4% and Ph.D. holders .8%. Majority 90.8% desire provision of materials for malaria control. FGDs showed four themes: range of involvement, adopted strategies, attitude towards prevention and vector control strategies.

CONCLUSION: Many residents were not adopting any protective strategy and were not involved in vector control. Males consistently outperformed with knowledge of prevention and involvement in malaria control than females. Attitude towards involvement in control, adoption of protective strategies and involvement in vector control all require improvement.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Nurses and midwives should target women at MCH clinics, market and town halls for health education on malaria prevention also sensitising residents for greater involvement in prevention and vector control. Advocacy to support supply of vector control materials is essential.

Notes

Reference list included in attached slide deck.

Description

SUMMARY: Males consistently performed better in knowledge and involvement with malaria prevention and vector control. Involvement in vector control and malaria prevention strategies require improvement especially among females. Almost all the subjects stated the need for vector control materials required for prevention. Findings have implications for nurses and midwives to strengthen health education on prevention especially among women and advocacy for provision of vector control materials.

Author Details

Idongesit Akpabio, PhD; Esther Inokon, BNSc; Alberta Nsemo, PhD

Sigma Membership

Alpha Beta Gamma

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Mixed/Multi Method Research

Keywords:

Primary Care, Public and Community Health, Promoting Clinical Outcomes, Malaria Prevention, Rural Setting, Nigeria

Conference Name

48th Biennial Convention

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Conference Year

2025

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2025-11-19

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Adult Residents' Knowledge, Attitude, and Involvement in Malaria Prevention in Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

INTRODUCTION:The sub-Saharan Africa has a high prevalence of malaria being one of the leading causes of mortality in the local population. This study were to investigate knowledge and attitude towards prevention, prevention strategies, vector control and materials needed for prevention. Five null hypotheses guided the study.

METHOD: This involved descriptive design and Focus Group Discussion FGD. The target and accessible population were 7862 and 1,534 residents from eight villages respectively. Subjects were 487 selected from 32 households using systematic random sampling. Questionnaire with Content Validity Index of .89 and test-retest reliability of .87 was used for data collection. FGDs involved 30 adults selected using purposive sampling. Descriptive data and hypotheses were analyzed using percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Chi-square respectively. FGD data involved thematic analysis in themes.

RESULTS: Majority 62.6% had good knowledge of malaria prevention and 61% had positive attitude towards prevention while 37.6% never adopted any protective strategy; About 57.1% were not involved in vector control. There was significant relationship between knowledge, attitude, and involvement in malaria prevention among subjects (p< 0.05). Gender was significantly associated with knowledge and involvement in prevention (p< 0.05) with males being better 35.3% and 26.3% than females 27.3% and 16.6% respectively; Vector control significantly differed based on educational status (p< 0.05) with Senior School Certificate holders better involved 11.9% than those with no formal education 6.4% and Ph.D. holders .8%. Majority 90.8% desire provision of materials for malaria control. FGDs showed four themes: range of involvement, adopted strategies, attitude towards prevention and vector control strategies.

CONCLUSION: Many residents were not adopting any protective strategy and were not involved in vector control. Males consistently outperformed with knowledge of prevention and involvement in malaria control than females. Attitude towards involvement in control, adoption of protective strategies and involvement in vector control all require improvement.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Nurses and midwives should target women at MCH clinics, market and town halls for health education on malaria prevention also sensitising residents for greater involvement in prevention and vector control. Advocacy to support supply of vector control materials is essential.