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Unravelling the Perspectives of Day and Night Traders in Selected Markets within a Sub-Saharan African City with a Malaria Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey
- Source :
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 18, Iss 3468, p 3468 (2021), International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 18, Issue 7
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Background: Malaria is still endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, with a high disease burden. Misconceptions about malaria contribute to poor attitudes and practices, further increasing the burden in endemic countries. Studies have examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of malaria among different populations. However, there seems to be no available literature reporting on the perspectives of day and night market traders. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on malaria KAP with a focus on day and night market traders. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving day and night market traders in 10 selected markets within the Greater Accra Region of Ghana was carried out. Data were collected from consenting respondents using a structured questionnaire. Results: Of the 760 respondents (33.3% (n = 253) night and 66.7% (n = 507) day traders) interviewed, there was no significant difference between the day and night market traders in terms of malaria KAP. Although the market traders had an overall moderate knowledge (54.0% of the day traders and 56.5% of the night traders), misconceptions about malaria (especially that it could be caused by exposure to the sun) still existed among the traders. Moreover, the majority of the traders who demonstrated high knowledge (43.98%, n = 250) did not always take laboratory tests to confirm their suspicion, indicating poor attitude. Furthermore, the market traders’ choice of drug for malaria treatment (p = 0.001) and preferred malaria treatment type (orthodox or herbal) (p = 0.005) were significantly associated with their knowledge level. Conclusions: Despite the observation that no significant difference in KAP exists between day and night market traders, appropriate health education programs and interventions still need to be directed at misconceptions, poor attitudes, and poor practices revealed by this study. This will ultimately help in the prevention and control of malaria in Ghana, and globally.
- Subjects :
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
knowledge
night
Sub saharan
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
030231 tropical medicine
Psychological intervention
malaria
lcsh:Medicine
Ghana
Article
traders
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
perspectives
Surveys and Questionnaires
day
parasitic diseases
medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Socioeconomics
Disease burden
Knowledge level
Significant difference
market
lcsh:R
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
medicine.disease
practice
Cross-Sectional Studies
Geography
attitude
Health education
Malaria
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 16617827 and 16604601
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 3468
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....5f8c18d0214fda394ce608a401131036