Belay Bogale, Gelana Tegenu, Gebresilassie Araya
Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines. 2021 Jul 5;7(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s40794-021-00146-2.
Ethiopia has achieved considerable progresses in the prevention and control of malaria in the past decades; hitherto it is a formidable health concern and socio-economic impediment. This study aimed at assessing the magnitude, knowledge, attitudes and practices towards malaria among febrile patients attending Chagni health center, northwest Ethiopia.
Health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of malaria and KAP towards malaria among febrile patients at Chagni health center in Chagni Town during September 2017 to February 2018. In order to determine the magnitude of malaria, finger prick blood samples were collected and thick and thin smears were prepared and microscopically examined for the presence of malaria parasites. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was also applied to assess KAP of suspected malaria patients, attending the health center. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.
Prevalence of malaria among febrile patients, who visited the sampled health facility, was 7.3%. Of these, Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, and mixed infections accounted for 55, 44.3 and 0.7% of the cases, respectively. This study also revealed that 97% of the respondents had ever heard about malaria and recognized it as a serious health problem. Mosquito bite was identified as the main malaria transmission. Taking drug (86.3%), use of mosquito nets (73.3%), drain stagnated water (68%), and house spay with insecticides (66%) were mentioned as the main malaria prevention methods. Mosquito net coverage and utilizations in the prior night were 98 and 75%, respectively. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) coverage was 99%, of which 77.5% of study participants' houses have been sprayed in the last 6 months.
The current study revealed that prevalence of malaria among febrile illnesses in the study area was relatively low (7.3%) with a high proportion of P. falciparum. Besides, participants had adequate knowledge, encouraging attitudes, and good practices about prevention and control of malaria. However, some misconceptions on malaria disease, its transmission, and prevention have been noted that actually require due attention by the concerned stakeholders. The findings of this study could be used as important inputs for the implementation of effective malaria prevention and control methods, including community health education programs, and scaling up coverage of evidence-based interventions.
在过去几十年中，埃塞俄比亚在疟疾防控方面取得了显著进展；但迄今为止，疟疾仍是一个严重的健康问题和社会经济障碍。本研究旨在评估埃塞俄比亚西北部查尼健康中心发热患者中疟疾的流行程度、相关知识、态度和实践情况。
于2017年9月至2018年2月在查尼镇的查尼健康中心开展了一项基于医疗机构的横断面研究，以估计发热患者中疟疾的患病率以及对疟疾的知识、态度和实践情况。为确定疟疾的流行程度，采集手指刺血样本，制作厚涂片和薄涂片，并通过显微镜检查疟原虫的存在情况。还应用了一份经过预测试的结构化问卷来评估到健康中心就诊的疑似疟疾患者的知识、态度和实践情况。数据使用SPSS 20.0版进行分析。
到抽样健康机构就诊的发热患者中疟疾患病率为7.3%。其中，恶性疟原虫、间日疟原虫和混合感染分别占病例的55%、44.3%和0.7%。本研究还显示，97%的受访者曾听说过疟疾，并将其视为严重的健康问题。蚊虫叮咬被确定为主要的疟疾传播途径。服用药物（86.3%）、使用蚊帐（73.3%）、排干积水（68%）和用杀虫剂喷洒房屋（66%）被提及为主要的疟疾预防方法。前一晚蚊帐的覆盖率和使用率分别为98%和75%。室内滞留喷洒（IRS）覆盖率为99%，其中77.5%的研究参与者的房屋在过去6个月内已进行喷洒。
当前研究表明，研究区域内发热疾病中疟疾的患病率相对较低（7.3%），恶性疟原虫比例较高。此外，参与者对疟疾的预防和控制有足够的知识、积极的态度和良好的实践。然而，已注意到一些关于疟疾疾病、其传播和预防的误解，相关利益攸关方实际上需要对此予以适当关注。本研究结果可作为实施有效的疟疾预防和控制方法（包括社区健康教育项目）以及扩大循证干预措施覆盖范围的重要依据。
