Cox Sarah N, Guidera Kathryn E, Simon Molly J, Nonyane Bareng Aletta Sanny, Brieger William, Bornman Maria Susanna, Kruger Philippus Stephanus
1 25802 Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore, MD, USA.
2 One Sun Health Inc., New York, USA & Mpumalanga, ZA.
Int Q Community Health Educ. 2018 Jan;38(2):147-158. doi: 10.1177/0272684X17749573. Epub 2017 Dec 28.
Malaria is preventable and treatable, yet remains the most prevalent parasitic endemic disease in Africa. This article analyzes prospective observational data from the Malaria Awareness Program (MAP), an interactive malaria education initiative led by home-based care workers to improve participant knowledge of malaria as a precursor to increased uptake of malaria control interventions in the Vhembe District, Limpopo, South Africa. Between 2012 and 2016, 1,330 individuals participated in MAP. MAP's effectiveness was measured through pre- and post-participation surveys assessing knowledge in malaria transmission, symptoms, prevention, and treatment. The primary analysis assessed differences in knowledge between individuals who completed MAP ( n = 499) and individuals who did not complete MAP ( n = 399). The adjusted odds of correct malaria knowledge score versus partially correct or incorrect score among MAP completers was 3.3 and 2.8 times greater for transmission and prevention, respectively ( p values<.001). A subanalysis assessed knowledge improvement among participants who completed both pre- and post-MAP intervention surveys ( n = 266). There was a 21.4% and 10.5% increase in the proportion of participants who cited correct malaria transmission and prevention methods, respectively. Future research should assess behavioral changes toward malaria prevention and treatment as a result of an intervention and examine incidence changes in the region.
疟疾是可预防和可治疗的，但仍是非洲最普遍的寄生虫地方病。本文分析了疟疾意识项目（MAP）的前瞻性观察数据，该项目是一项由居家护理人员主导的互动式疟疾教育倡议，旨在提高南非林波波省韦姆贝区参与者对疟疾的认识，作为增加疟疾控制干预措施采用率的先导。2012年至2016年期间，1330人参与了MAP。MAP的有效性通过参与前和参与后的调查来衡量，这些调查评估了对疟疾传播、症状、预防和治疗的知识。主要分析评估了完成MAP的个体（n = 499）和未完成MAP的个体（n = 399）之间的知识差异。在MAP完成者中，正确的疟疾知识得分与部分正确或错误得分相比，调整后的优势比在传播和预防方面分别高出3.3倍和2.8倍（p值<0.001）。一项子分析评估了完成MAP干预前后调查的参与者（n = 266）的知识改善情况。分别提及正确疟疾传播和预防方法的参与者比例增加了21.4%和10.5%。未来的研究应评估干预导致的对疟疾预防和治疗的行为变化，并检查该地区的发病率变化。
