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The study explored home management practices for malaria by caregivers in the Military Cantonment, Ojo Lagos. Data was collected using pre-tested Focus Group Discussion guide and interviewer-administered questionnaire. The 400 survey respondents were selected using the systematic sampling method while the discussion participants were purposively selected. Data analysis was done using EPI Info statistical software and thematic approaches. The mean age of respondents was 29 +/- 15.2 years while 89.8% of respondents were biological parents of the index children. High prevalence of malaria all year round caused by mosquitoes bite was indicated by 281 (70.2%) respondents, while 73 (18.3%) of the respondents reported having lost a child under 5 years old to malaria related illnesses. Preventive practices were uncoordinated while awareness and use of ITNs is low. Home management practices of childhood malaria involved the immediate treatment with medicines available in the home. Sharing of left over drugs and herbs were common practices. Home treatment was preferred because of high costs 250 (62.5%), unfriendly attitude of workers 195 (48.8%) and long waiting time 194 (48.5%) in the health facilities. Based on the findings there is the need to institute an awareness programme aimed at improving prompt home management of malaria in the barracks.

Polio immunisation has faced challenges of refusal from care givers in recent times despite the efforts put in to ensure its success. To identify the role of service providers in this attitudinal shift, a survey describing the perception of health workers about the supplemental immunization activities was carried out among 265 health workers who participated in the 3rd round of the 2003 sub-national immunization days in Gombe local government area (LGA) of Gombe state, Nigeria. Data was collected using pretested qualitative and quantitative instruments. Quantitative data was analysed using EPI Info statistical software and the qualitative using thematic areas. Results showed that 211 (79.6%) knew fecal-oral route as the commonest mode for poliovirus transmission, 231 (87.2%) knew the age for vaccination, 224 (84.5%) knew the correct use of vaccine vial monitor while 143 (53.9%) knew the correct action to take when a case of polio was identified. On perception, 22 (8.3%) perceived that OPV was harmful due to repeated administration, 26 (9.8%) perceived that OPV had sterility property, contained harmful materials 14 (5.3%) and HIV 11 (4.2%). Main reasons for immunisation rejection were sterility 115 (43.3%) and contamination with HIV 94 (35.5%). The study found that irrespective of adequate knowledge on transmission, misconceptions still exist among health workers on the polio vaccine. Based on this, there is the need for continuous training to remove the misconceptions concerning their perceptions and rumors about the vaccine and the programme.