Library Portal | UWC Portal | National ETDs | Global ETDs
    • Login
    Contact Us | Quick Submission Guide | About Us | FAQs | Login
    View Item 
    •   ETD Home
    • Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences
    • School of Government
    • Masters in Public Administration - MPA
    • View Item
    •   ETD Home
    • Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences
    • School of Government
    • Masters in Public Administration - MPA
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Knowledge, attitudes and treatment-seeking behaviour towards Malaria among adult residents of Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga province, South Africa

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Hlongwana_MPH_2009.pdf (5.715Mb)
    Date
    2009
    Author
    Lerebo, Wondwossen T.
    Igumbor, Ehimario
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Introduction:Highest-risk malaria areas in South Africa share borders with Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Ongoing migration between these neighbouring areas impacts on malaria control interventions. For example, 30% of the adult population in Bushbuckridge originate from Mozambique. Despite these dynamics, no studies were found which investigated knowledge,attitudes and behaviours towards malaria in Bushbuckridge. Methods:This study was undertaken as a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A field-piloted structured questionnaire was administered to 602 randomly selected households, where only one household member was interviewed. Interviewees were heads of households, but in their absence, responsible adults above 18 years were included.Results:Of 602 respondents, 93% (n=559, 95% CI: 90.4 – 94.7%) had heard about malaria, mainly from health facilities (29%, n=175) and radios (20%,n=119). Most respondents correctly associated malaria with mosquito bites. There were no differences in knowledge of the causes of malaria between males and females, whereas age and educational level influenced malaria knowledge.Younger and more educated respondents were more knowledgeable than their older and less educated counterparts. Despite 91% of respondents (n=546, 95% CI: 88.0 – 92.8%) knowing that malaria can kill if untreated; only 48% could identify one or two symptoms of malaria. Most (99%, n=595, 95% CI: 97.5 – 99.5%) of the respondents would seek treatment at health facilities,82% (n=488) of whom would do so within 24 hours of onset of malaria symptoms.Discussion and conclusion : Most respondents showed a fair amount of knowledge on the causes of malaria, but not enough people were able to correctly identify the key symptoms of malaria. Health facility and radio were the main sources of malaria information. Most respondents sought treatment at health care facilities, contrary to most African countries where treatment is first sought at non-public health facilities.Word count: 288
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11394/3221
    Collections
    • Masters in Public Administration - MPA [158]

    DSpace 5.5 | Ubuntu 14.04 | Copyright © University of the Western Cape
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    @mire NV
     

     

    Browse

    All of RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    DSpace 5.5 | Ubuntu 14.04 | Copyright © University of the Western Cape
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    @mire NV