Department of Biology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Malar J. 2010 Feb 11;9:47. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-9-47.
Malaria remains the most important public health problem in tropical and subtropical areas. Mothers' or caregivers' ability to recognize childhood malaria-related morbidity is crucial as knowledge, attitudes and health seeking behavior of caregivers towards childhood malaria could influence response to signs of the disease.
A total of 1,003 caregivers in 'at-risk' villages in close proximity to the Gilgel-Gibe hydroelectric dam in south-western Ethiopia, and 953 caregivers in 'control' villages further away from the dam were surveyed using structured questionnaires to assess their knowledge, perceptions and health seeking behaviour about childhood malaria.
Malaria (busa) was ranked as the most serious health problem. Caregivers perceived childhood malaria as a preventable ('at-risk' 96%, 'control' 86%) and treatable ('at-risk' 98% and 'control' 96%) disease. Most caregivers correctly associated the typical clinical manifestations with malaria attacks. The use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) was mentioned as a personal protective measure, whereas the role of indoor residual spraying (IRS) in malaria prevention and control was under-recognized. Most of the caregivers would prefer to seek treatment in health-care services in the event of malaria and reported the use of recommended anti-malarials.
Health education to improve knowledge, perceptions and health-seeking behaviour related to malaria is equally important for caregivers in 'at risk' villages and caregivers in 'control' villages as minimal differences seen between both groups. Concluding, there may be a need of more than one generation after the introduction of the dam before differences can be noticed. Secondly, differences in prevalence between 'control' and 'at-risk' villages may not be sufficient to influence knowledge and behaviour.
疟疾仍然是热带和亚热带地区最重要的公共卫生问题。母亲或照顾者识别儿童疟疾相关发病率的能力至关重要，因为照顾者对儿童疟疾的知识、态度和寻求医疗行为会影响对疾病迹象的反应。
在埃塞俄比亚西南部吉尔格尔-吉贝水电大坝附近的“高危”村庄和距离大坝较远的“对照”村庄中，共有 1003 名照顾者和 953 名照顾者接受了结构问卷调查，以评估他们对儿童疟疾的知识、看法和寻求医疗行为。
疟疾（布萨）被列为最严重的健康问题。照顾者认为儿童疟疾是可预防的（“高危”为 96%，“对照”为 86%）和可治疗的（“高危”为 98%，“对照”为 96%）疾病。大多数照顾者正确地将典型的临床表现与疟疾发作联系起来。使用驱虫蚊帐（ITN）被认为是一种个人保护措施，而室内滞留喷洒（IRS）在疟疾预防和控制中的作用则被低估。大多数照顾者在发生疟疾时更愿意在医疗服务机构中寻求治疗，并报告使用了推荐的抗疟药物。
对于“高危”村庄的照顾者和“对照”村庄的照顾者来说，进行与疟疾相关的健康教育，以提高知识、看法和寻求医疗行为同样重要，因为两组之间几乎没有差异。结论是，在大坝建成后，可能需要一代人以上的时间才能注意到差异。其次，“对照”和“高危”村庄之间的患病率差异可能不足以影响知识和行为。
