Awasthi Kiran Raj, Jancey Jonine, Clements Archie C A, Leavy Justine E
Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
PLoS One. 2022 Mar 18;17(3):e0265561. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265561. eCollection 2022.
Nepal has made significant progress in decreasing the number of malaria cases over the last two decades. Prevention and timely management of malaria are critical for the National Malaria Program in its quest for elimination. The study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards malaria prevention and treatment among people living in rural villages of Khatyad Rural Municipality in Nepal.
This qualitative study collected information through virtual in-depth interviews (N = 25) with female and male participants aged between 15 and 72 years.
More than half of the participants knew about the causes of malaria, were aware of the complications of untreated malaria and knew that anti-malarial medicines were provided for free at the public health facilities. Participants indicated that their first choice of health care were public health facilities, however limited supply of medications and diagnostics deviated patients to the private sector. While tertiary care costs were not financially viable, participants opted against traditional care for malaria. Factors such as cost of treatment, distance to the health facility and the decision making authority in households influenced health related decisions in the family. Although long-lasting insecticidal nets were distributed and indoor residual spraying was done periodically, several barriers were identified.
Increased awareness of malaria prevention and treatment among people living in malaria risk areas is important for the National Malaria Program in its quest for malaria elimination in Nepal.
在过去二十年中，尼泊尔在减少疟疾病例数量方面取得了重大进展。疟疾的预防和及时管理对于国家疟疾防治计划实现消除疟疾的目标至关重要。该研究旨在探索尼泊尔卡蒂亚德农村市农村地区居民对疟疾预防和治疗的知识、态度和行为。
这项定性研究通过对15至72岁的男性和女性参与者进行虚拟深度访谈（N = 25）收集信息。
超过一半的参与者了解疟疾的病因，知晓未经治疗的疟疾的并发症，并且知道公共卫生设施免费提供抗疟药物。参与者表示他们首选的医疗保健机构是公共卫生设施，然而药物和诊断设备供应有限使患者转向了私营部门。虽然三级护理费用在经济上不可行，但参与者没有选择传统的疟疾治疗方法。治疗费用、到医疗机构的距离以及家庭中的决策权威等因素影响了家庭中与健康相关的决策。尽管分发了长效驱虫蚊帐并定期进行室内滞留喷洒，但仍发现了一些障碍。
提高疟疾风险地区居民对疟疾预防和治疗的认识对于国家疟疾防治计划在尼泊尔实现消除疟疾的目标很重要。
