Perceptions and home management practices of malaria in some rural communities in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

A survey was carried out in five rural communities that enjoy agricultural extension services from the University of Agriculture Abeokuta. Questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGDs) were used to assess perceptions and home management practices of malaria infection. The inhabitants considered malaria (which they refer to as "Iba Otutu") has the least dangerous of other types of common fever such as yellow fever and typhoid fever. A vast majority of the respondents (73%) attributed malaria infection to doing of strenuous jobs in the hot sun, while only 11.7% attributed it to mosquito bites. Hunger, eating or drinking of contaminated food or water were other sources of malaria infection mentioned by the respondent. During the FGDs, another source of infection of malaria identified was excessive exposure to heat of fire used in frying cassava (garri), therefore those frying garri and those spreading cassava flakes in the sun were identified as most vulnerable to malaria infection. During the FGD, high level of malaria infection in children was attributed to children playful activities in the sun. It is believed that malaria infection will occur even without mosquito bites but with exposure to these other factors especially the intense heat of the sun. Respondents showed good knowledge of malaria symptoms even in infants and children. However, in the event of malaria infection consumption of herbal preparations is the first line of treatment. Drug hawkers that sell modern drugs in the communities were mainly consulted for malaria treatment. The antimalarial drugs bought were often wrongly used and none of the respondents were aware of the current trend in malaria management with modern drugs. Hospital visitation is usually after many days of persistent illness without improvement despite all forms of self medication. The main measure used against malaria vectors was insecticide coils (74.6%). None of the respondents used insecticide treated net (ITN). Distance, cost and poor quality of hospital treatment were reasons for refusal to seek proper medical care. Health education and improved health care services are recommended for these farmers in order for them to be able to translate extension services provided into maximum agricultural yields.