Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Official Journal of Pharmacotherpy Group
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Knowledge of malaria amongst caregivers of young children in rural and urban communities in Southwest Nigeria

Oreagba AI¹, Onajole AT², Olayemi SO¹, Mabadeje AFB¹

¹Department of Pharmacology, ²Department of Community Health

College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria

Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 2004; 3(1): 299-304

Abstract  Full-Text

Purpose: To compare the awareness and treatment knowledge of malaria amongst caregivers of young children in urban and rural areas of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area in Ogun State.    

Method: Structured questionnaires were administered to caregivers of children under the age of five years in 1472 households using a multistage random sampling technique.

Results: Many respondents (65%) attributed the cause of malaria to mosquito bite. The knowledge of malaria treatment (particularly the knowledge of pediatric doses) was generally poor. Caregivers in urban areas had better understanding of the dosage regimen for both adult and pediatric doses (p<0.05) than those in rural areas (p <0.05). However, caregivers in urban areas also sought more frequently for treatment of their children that are febrile than those living in rural areas.  The latter visited the patent medicine vendors more frequently than the former (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The caregivers of children in the communities studied have poor knowledge of malaria. Those in urban areas have better health-seeking behaviour than those in rural areas. There is therefore need for urgent interventions to promote appropriate treatments of malaria in rural areas.

Key words:  Caregiver, children, malaria, treatment knowledge 

To whom correspondence should be addressed: E-mail: oreagbai@yahoo.com