A cross-sectional study on demography, clinical presentation, knowledge, attitude, practice, and treatment seeking behavior among uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria patients at a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India

Abstract

Background: Malaria continues to be a public health problem in India including Kolkata, West Bengal. Timely recognition of the symptoms of malaria, attending health-care facilities, prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment can only prevent fatal outcome. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the knowledge, attitude, practice, and treatment seeking behavior of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata after receiving ethics committee approval. Each consecutive consented uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria patients of all age group and gender excluding sick patients, pregnant women, and infants were interviewed with a predesigned and pretested semi-structured questionnaire to elicit personal history, clinical complaints, knowledge, and awareness about malaria, preventive measures, and treatment seeking behavior along with history of medication use. Results: Out of total 112 study participants, majority were young (mean age 37.5 ± 13.41 years), 50.89% had no formal education, mostly engaged in small business (33.03%) or in manual labor. Majority (74.10%) used antipyretic and analgesics for fever and 51.78% consulted a local private physician first before attending government hospital which they usually prefer. Many (58.92%) knew mosquito as vector but only 7.14% regularly used mosquito bed nets. Use of antibiotics (barring antimalarials) was 11.60%. Conclusion: The study participants showed a good knowledge about malaria, its transmission, and clinical symptomatology but a mismatch with attitude and practice in disease prevention and treatment seeking behavior was noted. More awareness campaign should be conducted among general public to improve the same.