Effects of Training on Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Malaria Prevention and Control among Community Role Model Care Givers in South Western Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Malaria is endemic in Nigeria, with significant records of mortality and morbidity.Adequate community involvement is central to a successful implementation of malaria control programs.This study assessed the effects of a training programme on knowledge of malaria prevention and controlamong community role model care givers.METHODS: A descriptive cross sectional study of a pre-and post-test design method was conductedamong 400 eligible community members in Osun State. Training was given in the form of organizedlectures, health education and practical demonstration sessions. Scores of pre-test and post-testconducted after four months interval were compared. Multistage sampling method was adopted inselecting study participants, while data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 17.0.RESULTS: Mean age was 43.8 (+1.4) years. Average knowledge score of cause, transmission, riskfactors and consequences, awareness of common symptoms and preventive practices improved duringpost-training test when compared with pr-training test. The overall descriptive mean knowledge score inpre-test and post-test were 2.1 and 3.5 respectively out of an average maximum score of 5.0, giving anincrement of 66.7%. Role model care givers with formal education were twice and three times more likelyto know about disease ‘transmission’ (OR 1.9, 95%CI 0.11-0.19, p=0.002) and ‘consequences’ (OR 2.9,95%CI 0.25-0.65, p=0.040) respectively compared to those without formal education.CONCLUSION: Training on malaria improved the knowledge of malaria prevention and control amongrole model community care givers towards a successful implementation of malaria control programmes.