Knowledge and preventive practices against Lassa fever among heads of households in Abakaliki metropolis, Southeast Nigeria: A cross-sectional study
| Autor: | Edmund Ndudi Ossai, Ogah Emeka Onwe, Nnaemeka Philips Okeagu, Amarachi Laura Ugwuoru, Thankgod Kelechi Eze, Augustine Sunday Nwede |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare, Vol 29 (2020) |
| Druh dokumentu: | article |
| ISSN: | 2010-1058 2059-2329 20101058 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/2010105819899120 |
| Popis: | Background: Lassa fever is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the knowledge and preventive measures against Lassa fever among heads of households in Abakaliki metropolis, Southeast Nigeria. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A four-stage sampling design was used to select 420 respondents from Abakaliki metropolis. A good knowledge of Lassa fever was determined by the proportion of respondents scoring ⩾50% in 15 variables. Good preventive practices against Lassa fever were determined by the proportion of respondents obtaining a score of ⩾50% in 12 variables. Results: The mean age of respondents was 34.1±9.4 years, and the majority (56.5%) were males. Major sources of information included television (66.4%) and radio (64.3%). A minority (11.0%) consume rats at present, while 86.7% knew that rats could transmit Lassa fever to humans. The majority (60.0%) had a good knowledge of Lassa fever, while 66.4% demonstrated good preventive practices. A predictor of good knowledge included being a consumer of rats, (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–4.9). Predictors of good preventive practices included being in a low socio-economic class (AOR=2.1; 95% CI 1.3–3.6) and having a good knowledge of Lassa fever (AOR=10.2; 95% CI: 6.2–10.6). Conclusions: The majority of respondents had a good knowledge of Lassa fever and demonstrated good preventive practices against it. A good knowledge of Lassa fever was associated with good preventive practices. There is need for a good understanding of Lassa fever among the population, as this will improve preventive practices. Health workers have an important role to play in disseminating information concerning Lassa fever. |
| Databáze: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
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