KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICES OF CAREGIVERS TOWARDS PREVENTION OF MALARIA AMONG CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS ATTENDING KATAKWI HOSPITAL, KATAKWI DISTRICT. A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background

Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by several species of plasmodium parasites transmitted to humans through a bite by an infected female anopheles mosquito. The study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of caregivers towards the prevention of malaria among children under five years attending Katakwi Hospital, Katakwi District.

 Methodology

A descriptive cross-sectional design. A simple random selection technique was used in this study to give equal opportunity to all respondents and to reduce biases. The researcher considered 50 respondents.

 Results

(42%) of the respondents were aged 15-24 years, more than half 40% of the respondents were married, and least (8%) were divorced. (50%) resided 15 or even more than 15 kilometres away from the facility with a few who stayed within 2kms away from the facility. (64%) cited the use of mosquito nets as a control measure for malaria, and the least (2%) immunization. (46%) respondents practiced home management, (42%) of them took their children to the health facility, (18%) used herbs and (14%) of the respondents bought drugs from the nearest drug shop.

 Conclusion

The knowledge on different methods of malaria prevention among caretakers of children under five was generally good, although the practices were poor since many of them didn’t practice routine and constant use of mosquito nets, also others still used traditional herbs as a control measure of malaria infection.

 Recommendation

The Ministry of Health should increase the training of service providers to effect the prevention strategies to sensitize the community. This can easily be done through continuous mass community health education meetings and campaigns to sensitize malaria prevention.