COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PERCEPTION TOWARDS MALARIA PREVENTION AND CONTROL STRATEGIES IN RURAL AREAS OF KERSA DISTRICT IN JIMMA ZONE, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: - Malaria is not only a major public health problem but also a cause for many social and economic problems in endemic countries. The control of malaria remains as one of the world's greatest public health challenges. However, the level of community involvement in the prevention and control strategies is low. Information on the level of community involvement and their perception towards malaria prevention and control strategies was not available in the study area. This study assessed community's perception about malaria prevention and control strategies and to determine the type and level of community involvement of rural areas of Southwest Ethiopia.

METHODS: A cross-sectional community-based survey was carried out on 340 rural households in two kebeles of Kersa district in Jimma zone, Southwest Ethiopia between November and December 2005. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied for data analysis.

RESULTS: Three hundred thirty four (98 %) of the study participants believed that malaria was the major public health problem of the community. About 60% of the respondents associated the causes of malaria to the bite of mosquito. More than 87 % of the respondents had knowledge about the main signs and symptoms suggestive for malaria. Fifty percent of the participants were involved in various malaria control activities during the past few years.

CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about mosquito bite as the cause of malaria and community's involvement in malaria control and prevention were low (58.5%) and (50%) respectively. Effective health education interventions through community health agents focusing more on women for improving malaria control activities at grass root level are recommended.