EFFECTS OF FORMAL EDUCATION ON MALARIA KNOWLEDGE AMONG RESIDENTS OF A RURAL COMMUNITY IN ENUGU STATE, SOUTHEAST NIGERIA
Abstract
Malaria is endemic in many developing countries where it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. An estimated 212 million cases of malaria occurred globally, resulting in 429,000 deaths; as against the 214 million cases recorded in 2014, that resulted in 438,000 deaths. It is still a major health challenge in Nigeria. It has been documented that formal education improves overall knowledge of malaria among the populace. The cardinal objective of this research is to assess the knowledge of residents of a rural community, on malaria with emphasis on causes, complications, prevention, and management of the disease. The study was conducted in Egede town, a rural community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu state, Southeast Nigeria. The study was of observational, descriptive, cross-sectional design; and was carried out among rural residents who presented for a medical outreach activity in January 2015. The socio-demographic variables for the respondents showed that 53.0% had no formal education. On the knowledge of causes of malaria, the T - test of scores = 0.001; P value = 0.05, while the T - test of scores for knowledge of malaria complications = 0.0002; P value = 0.05. Ttest of scores for knowledge of malaria prevention = 0.002; P value = 0.05, and for the T - test of scores for the knowledge on management of malaria = 0.04; P value = 0.05. Respondents with formal education had significantly better knowledge than those without formal education.
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