Community knowledge, attitude, and practices for protection against the malaria: A cross-sectional study in a rural area of aspirational district in Haryana, India

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Malaria poses a great socioeconomic burden on humanity as it affects the majority of countries in the tropical and subtropical regions. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 445,000 in 2016, a similar to the previous year (446,000). This study was conducted with the aim to assess community knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) for protection against the malaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was community-based with a cross-sectional study conducted for 4 months in the 6 villages under the subcenter Sangail, with household as a sampling unit, and study participants were selected by randomized multistage sampling technique. A pretested, predesigned, standardized questionnaire with close-ended responses was developed for data collection. All tests were performed at a 5% level of significance. RESULTS: In the present study, more than one-fifth of participants believed that malaria is due to the wrath of almighty (22.3%) or bad air (30.2%), the restrain was observed in about half of households (54.5%) for indoor indoor residual spray, half of the participants strongly believed that malaria is not a public health issue (45.3%) and more than three-fourth of households (34.8%) were still preferring to sleep outside of their homes. CONCLUSION: KAP of malaria and its control was observed to be low among the study population. Misconceptions about malaria transmission still exist. The result of this study will bring forward the health-care workers with the desired need for health education and promotion on malaria at the first contact either in the health facilities or in the patient's family house on home visit.

Keywords

• cross-sectional
• endemic
• health education
• households
• treatment