KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE AND PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AMONG FEBRILE PATIENTS ATTENDING BULLEN HEALTH CENTER, NORTH WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Getachew Desalegn

dc.contributor.author	Getachew Desalegn
dc.date.accessioned	2020-12-11T08:06:50Z
dc.date.available	2020-12-11T08:06:50Z
dc.date.issued	2020-12-11
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11727
dc.description.abstract	Abstract Malaria has long been a serious public health threat causing a significant number of sickness and deaths each year in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has achieved remarkable progresses in the prevention and control of malaria, yet it is a formidable health concern and socio-economic impediment. A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2019 to August 2020 to determine prevalence of malaria and assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards malaria among individuals attending Bullen Health Center, northwest Ethiopia. After getting consent, blood samples were collected from 384 malaria suspected individuals and questionnaires were also filled by same subjects. Thin and thick blood films were prepared from the blood samples, Giemsa stained and examined microscopically at Bullen health center. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Association between malaria prevalence and socio-demographic characteristics was tested with the chi-square. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) analysis was made using the descriptive statistical analysis method. The magnitudes of associations were assessed using odds ratio (OR), with respective 95%CI, and logistic regression models to control for socio-demographic variables. P-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Prevalence of malaria among patients attending at the sampled health facility was 39%. Of these, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, accounted for 65% and 35% of the cases, respectively. This study also revealed that 57% of the respondents had ever heard/ prevented malaria and recognized it as a serious health problem. Mosquito bite (60%) was identified as the main mode of malaria transmission. Taking drug (53%), use of mosquito nets (69%), draining stagnated water (39%), and house spray with insecticides (35%) 1-2 years were mentioned as the main malaria prevention methods. Mosquito net coverage and its utilization were 55% and 48%, respectively. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) coverage was 28%. Besides, participants had adequate knowledge, good attitudes, and good practices about prevention and control of malaria. However, some misconceptions on malaria disease, its transmission, and prevention methods have been noted that actually require due attention by the concerned stakeholders. The findings of this study recommend the implementation effective malaria interventions in the area and beyond focusing on enhancing community awareness and scaling up coverage of evidence-based interventions. Keywords: Attitude, Bullen district, Ethiopia, Knowledge, Malaria , Practice, Prevalence	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.subject	Biology	en_US
dc.title	KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE AND PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AMONG FEBRILE PATIENTS ATTENDING BULLEN HEALTH CENTER, NORTH WESTERN ETHIOPIA	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US