Knowledge of Causes of Malaria and Use of Insecticide-treated Nets: A Comparative Analysis of Female Residents in Urban Slums in Makoko, Iwaya and Bariga, Lagos State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Insecticide-treated nets, ITNs, Knowledge, Malaria, Urban slumsAbstract
This study examined the knowledge of the causes of malaria, and the use of insecticide-treated nets among female residents of three urban slums in Lagos State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 195 female residents aged between 18 to 59years in Makoko, Iwaya, and Bariga urban slum communities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from standardized instruments, with Cronbach’s Alpha score of 0.746. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Four research hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Variance and Chi Square Analysis at 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that female residents across the three slum communities had good knowledge of the causes of malaria (67.2%), but poor use of insecticide-treated nets to prevent mosquito bites at night (19.5%). Misconceptions on the causes of malaria remain a concern. The study recommends the distribution of insecticide-treated nets in the slum communities supported by periodic health education interventions to encourage consistent use of the insecticide-treated nets.
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