2017 Volume 32 Issue 4 Pages 261-270
Introduction
This study assessed the level of malaria-related knowledge in Cameroonian mothers and identified the relationship between maternal knowledge and practice of preventive measures in their children.
Methods
The study was conducted from August through September 2014. The participants comprised 50 mothers who visited A Health Center for immunization of their biological children under the age of 5 years. They were interviewed using a questionnaire, which was developed by the authors, with a response rate of 100%. The questionnaire was composed of questions regarding maternal malaria-related knowledge, preventive measures for malaria in their children, sources of information on malaria, and attributes of the participants. Analysis of covariance was performed with the items on maternal malaria-related knowledge (four items) as independent variables and preventive measures for malaria in their children (one item) as a dependent variable. Attributes of the participants were entered as covariates in the analysis. Chi square test was conducted between the age of the mother, knowledge related to the causes of malaria, and the use of mosquito nets as a preventive measure against malaria for children.
Results
Among the 50 participants, 40 (80.0%) knew “mosquito bite” as the cause of malaria, whereas 10 (20.0%) did not, and 39 (78.0%) cited “healthcare provider at a hospital or clinic” as the source of information on malaria, whereas 26 (52.0%) cited “television.”
Analysis of covariance, which was performed to elucidate the relationship between the four items on malaria-related knowledge and the one item on preventive measures for malaria in their children, showed significant differences in all combinations.
Chi square test was conducted between knowledge related to the causes of malaria and the use of mosquito nets as a preventive measure against malaria for children. The result was a significant trend.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that mothers who had knowledge about the causes, symptoms, preventive measures, and financial burden of malaria took measures to prevent malaria in their children.
These findings suggested the importance of disseminating correct information on malaria, including its causes and the behavior of mosquitoes, for decreasing malarial morbidity and under-five mortality with appropriate preventive measures.
