Awareness and treatment seeking behaviour of malaria in selected endemic and non-endemic rural areas of Kanyakumari district, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

Background: Malaria is one of the world’s major public health concerns contributing to 243 million clinical cases and around million deaths annually. India reports the highest malaria burden in the South East Asia region. There is evidence that the availability of services alone may not ensure healthy practices, as they could be influenced by socio cultural barriers and inappropriate understanding of the disease etiology. Understanding of community perceptions and practices are crucial to bring down the burden of malaria. The objectives was to assess the awareness of malaria and treatment seeking behavior in an endemic and non-endemic area and to highlight the differences in the perceptions and treatment seeking behavior between the two areas. Methods: A descriptive study was undertaken in Primary Health Centres of Rajakkamangalamthurai (Endemic) and Chembagaramanputhur (Non endemic) for 2 Months. Patients with fever above the age of 15 years attending the Outpatient department of both the PHCs were chosen as study subjects. 150 patients were included in the study. Responses regarding malaria awareness and treatment seeking behavior were obtained using pre-structured, pre-tested and closed ended questionnaire. Results: Majority of the study subjects from the endemic area gave a correct response to the questions related to the disease terminology, modes of transmission and the usefulness of indoor residual sprays than the subjects from the non-endemic area and the difference was found to be statistically significant (P<.05). Most of the patients from the non-endemic areas were not aware about any information regarding malaria. Among the health seeking behaviour majority of the study subjects from the endemic area visits the health centre in less than 3 days after the onset of fever and also undergo a blood smear examination than that of the patients from the non-endemic area and the difference was found to be statistically significant. Majority of the patients from a non-endemic area opted for private hospital for their treatment whereas majority of them from the endemic area received the treatment from a government hospital. Conclusions: The lack of awareness of malaria in non endemic areas need special attention and the need of health awareness through the health care workers should be enhanced in both the endemic and non-endemic areas.