A formative cross-sectional study to assess caregiver’s health-seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria, and understand the burden of malaria among children under-five in conflict-affected communities of Cameroon
Abstract Background Malaria remains a major global health problem often worsened by political instability and armed conflict. The purpose of the study was to explore community knowledge, attitudes and practices on malaria prevention, and to understand the burden of malaria and health-seeking behavio...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-024-04902-5 |
| _version_ | 1797209587003162624 |
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| author | Elvis Asangbeng Tanue Lundi-Anne Omam Glennis T. Ayuk Bibiche Modjenpa Noukeme Alain Metuge Isabelle Nganmou Margaret Besem Ebob Laura Donovan Ann-Sophie Stratil Helen Counihan Claude Ngwayu Nkfusai Helen Hawkings Blanka Homolova Elizabeth Berryman Maxwell Kolawole Yakouba Zoungrana Dorothy Achu Samuel Wanji Esther Njomo Omam |
| author_facet | Elvis Asangbeng Tanue Lundi-Anne Omam Glennis T. Ayuk Bibiche Modjenpa Noukeme Alain Metuge Isabelle Nganmou Margaret Besem Ebob Laura Donovan Ann-Sophie Stratil Helen Counihan Claude Ngwayu Nkfusai Helen Hawkings Blanka Homolova Elizabeth Berryman Maxwell Kolawole Yakouba Zoungrana Dorothy Achu Samuel Wanji Esther Njomo Omam |
| author_sort | Elvis Asangbeng Tanue |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Malaria remains a major global health problem often worsened by political instability and armed conflict. The purpose of the study was to explore community knowledge, attitudes and practices on malaria prevention, and to understand the burden of malaria and health-seeking behaviours of caregivers of children under-five in conflict-affected communities of the South West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. Methods A cross-sectional survey involving internally displaced persons (IDPS), host population, and their children under-five was conducted across 80 communities. The survey was conducted from May to June 2021. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Malaria prevalence for children under-five was determined using rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) on blood samples. Association between variables and displacement status was measured using chi square test and multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with adequate knowledge on malaria prevention. Results A total of 2386 adults participated in the study and 1543 RDTs were conducted for children under-five. Adequate levels of knowledge and attitudes on malaria prevention was recorded among 1258 (52.9%) of the participants, with very strong evidence to suggest the level to be higher among the host (59.5%) compared to the IDPs (49.5%) and returnees (39.7%) (p < 0.001). Good practices towards malaria prevention was 43.3%, with very strong evidence indicating lower levels among IDPs (42.8%) and returnees (28.5%) compared to the host (49.4%) (p < 0.001). Malaria prevalence for children under-five was 54.0% and adequate health-seeking for suspected episodes of malaria was 53.0%, without any difference among IDPs (51.78%) and returnees (48.7%) compared to host populations (55.4%) (p = 0.154). Multivariate logistic regression model showed that there was quite strong evidence to suggest primary and secondary levels of education have higher odds of having correct knowledge of malaria prevention (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–2.64, p = 0.015 and AOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.15–2.82, p = 0.010 respectively). There was very strong evidence to suggest that owning a radio or a television was associated with greater odds of having a higher knowledge on malaria prevention (AOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.233–1.81, p = 0.000 and AOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.18–1.84, p = 0.001). Conclusion Over half of the population have correct knowledge and attitudes towards malaria prevention but gaps in complete knowledge remained. Some of the caregivers know the correct malaria preventive practices coupled with largely unsatisfactory treatment approaches and reflected by the high prevalence of malaria among their children. In order to effectively treat malaria, innovative strategies should target community participation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:57:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d910056ac14444bdbb2780e1dcb8c204 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:57:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-d910056ac14444bdbb2780e1dcb8c2042024-04-14T11:08:29ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752024-04-0123111210.1186/s12936-024-04902-5A formative cross-sectional study to assess caregiver’s health-seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria, and understand the burden of malaria among children under-five in conflict-affected communities of CameroonElvis Asangbeng Tanue0Lundi-Anne Omam1Glennis T. Ayuk2Bibiche Modjenpa Noukeme3Alain Metuge4Isabelle Nganmou5Margaret Besem Ebob6Laura Donovan7Ann-Sophie Stratil8Helen Counihan9Claude Ngwayu Nkfusai10Helen Hawkings11Blanka Homolova12Elizabeth Berryman13Maxwell Kolawole14Yakouba Zoungrana15Dorothy Achu16Samuel Wanji17Esther Njomo Omam18Reach Out CameroonReach Out CameroonReach Out CameroonReach Out CameroonReach Out CameroonKonmofamba Actions Sans FrontieresReach Out CameroonMalaria Consortium, the Green HouseMalaria Consortium, the Green HouseMalaria Consortium, the Green HouseMalaria Consortium, the Green HouseMalaria Consortium, the Green HouseMalaria Consortium, the Green HouseMalaria Consortium, the Green HouseMalaria Consortium, the Green HouseMalaria Consortium, the Green HouseNational Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Public HealthDepartment for Microbiology and Parasitology, University of BueaReach Out CameroonAbstract Background Malaria remains a major global health problem often worsened by political instability and armed conflict. The purpose of the study was to explore community knowledge, attitudes and practices on malaria prevention, and to understand the burden of malaria and health-seeking behaviours of caregivers of children under-five in conflict-affected communities of the South West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. Methods A cross-sectional survey involving internally displaced persons (IDPS), host population, and their children under-five was conducted across 80 communities. The survey was conducted from May to June 2021. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Malaria prevalence for children under-five was determined using rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) on blood samples. Association between variables and displacement status was measured using chi square test and multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with adequate knowledge on malaria prevention. Results A total of 2386 adults participated in the study and 1543 RDTs were conducted for children under-five. Adequate levels of knowledge and attitudes on malaria prevention was recorded among 1258 (52.9%) of the participants, with very strong evidence to suggest the level to be higher among the host (59.5%) compared to the IDPs (49.5%) and returnees (39.7%) (p < 0.001). Good practices towards malaria prevention was 43.3%, with very strong evidence indicating lower levels among IDPs (42.8%) and returnees (28.5%) compared to the host (49.4%) (p < 0.001). Malaria prevalence for children under-five was 54.0% and adequate health-seeking for suspected episodes of malaria was 53.0%, without any difference among IDPs (51.78%) and returnees (48.7%) compared to host populations (55.4%) (p = 0.154). Multivariate logistic regression model showed that there was quite strong evidence to suggest primary and secondary levels of education have higher odds of having correct knowledge of malaria prevention (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–2.64, p = 0.015 and AOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.15–2.82, p = 0.010 respectively). There was very strong evidence to suggest that owning a radio or a television was associated with greater odds of having a higher knowledge on malaria prevention (AOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.233–1.81, p = 0.000 and AOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.18–1.84, p = 0.001). Conclusion Over half of the population have correct knowledge and attitudes towards malaria prevention but gaps in complete knowledge remained. Some of the caregivers know the correct malaria preventive practices coupled with largely unsatisfactory treatment approaches and reflected by the high prevalence of malaria among their children. In order to effectively treat malaria, innovative strategies should target community participation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-024-04902-5MalariaKnowledgeAttitudesPracticesHealth-seekingConflicted-affected |
| spellingShingle | Elvis Asangbeng Tanue Lundi-Anne Omam Glennis T. Ayuk Bibiche Modjenpa Noukeme Alain Metuge Isabelle Nganmou Margaret Besem Ebob Laura Donovan Ann-Sophie Stratil Helen Counihan Claude Ngwayu Nkfusai Helen Hawkings Blanka Homolova Elizabeth Berryman Maxwell Kolawole Yakouba Zoungrana Dorothy Achu Samuel Wanji Esther Njomo Omam A formative cross-sectional study to assess caregiver’s health-seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria, and understand the burden of malaria among children under-five in conflict-affected communities of Cameroon Malaria Journal Malaria Knowledge Attitudes Practices Health-seeking Conflicted-affected |
| title | A formative cross-sectional study to assess caregiver’s health-seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria, and understand the burden of malaria among children under-five in conflict-affected communities of Cameroon |
| title_full | A formative cross-sectional study to assess caregiver’s health-seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria, and understand the burden of malaria among children under-five in conflict-affected communities of Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | A formative cross-sectional study to assess caregiver’s health-seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria, and understand the burden of malaria among children under-five in conflict-affected communities of Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | A formative cross-sectional study to assess caregiver’s health-seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria, and understand the burden of malaria among children under-five in conflict-affected communities of Cameroon |
| title_short | A formative cross-sectional study to assess caregiver’s health-seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria, and understand the burden of malaria among children under-five in conflict-affected communities of Cameroon |
| title_sort | formative cross sectional study to assess caregiver s health seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria and understand the burden of malaria among children under five in conflict affected communities of cameroon |
| topic | Malaria Knowledge Attitudes Practices Health-seeking Conflicted-affected |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-024-04902-5 |
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