MALARIA CONTROL MEASURES ASSESSMENT AND DETERMINANT FACTORS AMONG RESIDENTS OF SOME RURAL COMMUNITIES IN BAYELSA EAST, NIGERIA

DR. SOLOMON M. UVOH DR. SOLOMON M. UVOH; DR. EMMANUEL ONOKPITE DR. EMMANUEL ONOKPITE; EBIERE R. NDIOMU BEN-WAKAMA EBIERE R. NDIOMU BEN-WAKAMA; Dr. Odikeme D. Eyidenghabofa Dr. Odikeme D. Eyidenghabofa

doi:10.5281/zenodo.23278048

Authors

DR. SOLOMON M. UVOH Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences College of Health Sciences University of port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1580-9916
DR. EMMANUEL ONOKPITE Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University Abraka, Delta State Nigeria. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3499-3528
EBIERE R. NDIOMU BEN-WAKAMA Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, College of Health Sciences University of port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria
Dr. Odikeme D. Eyidenghabofa Department of health kinetic and health safety studies faculty of natural and applied Sciences, Ignatus Ajuru University of Education Port Harcourt river state, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23278048

Keywords:

Control, Communities, Environment, Malaria, Nets

Abstract

Aim/Objective: Malaria is public health challenge in rural communities due to poor surrounding conditions that encourage mosquitos breeding ground. This study assess malaria control/ determinant factors among residents of rural communities in Bayelsa East. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was adopted to select all 249 participants through simple random methods. Data collected were documented in a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: Observation from the study indicate that 96.00% participants were aware malaria been transmitted through mosquito bites, while 94.80% agreed that stagnant water encourages mosquito breeding. Additionally, 75.10% slept under insecticide-treated nets, 88.80% regularly cleared bushes, and 85.10% disposed household waste regularly. Furthermore, 84.70% reported that distance to health facilities affected malaria treatment, while 85.50% agreed that the cost of preventive tools limited usage. Conclusion: Although knowledge and preventive practices were relatively high, environmental and socioeconomic barriers hindered effective malaria control. We hereby recommend that intensified environmental sanitation and provision of subsidized malaria preventive measures should be in place by the government through the various health facilities to the various rural communities in the study areas.

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