Prevention and Control of Malaria in Urban Slum Communities of Makoko and Iwaya in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

This qualitative study examines the perception of residents of Makoko and Iwaya, two urban slum communities in Lagos on the nature, prevention and control of malaria. In-depth interviews were conducted with community leaders and other stakeholders, two key informant interviews were conducted with health officers and one focus group discussion was conducted with women drawn from the two communities. The result shows that knowledge of the nature of malaria was tainted with myths and misconceptions, even when the respondents were of the opinion that malaria was a critical concern that should be addressed in the communities. Malaria prevention practices among the communities were very low, with underutilization of the available health centres and resort to self-help.  The study recommends that malaria health education should be strengthened in the Makoko and Iwaya communities, and not limited to health centres; environmental sanitation should be prioritized to avoid breeding of mosquitoes, and partnering with government and non-governmental organizations for free distribution of insecticide-treated nets.