Ewurama D A Owusu1, Anne Lia Cremers2, Charles A Brown3, Petra F Mens4, Martin P Grobusch5. 1. Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana; Department of Parasitology, KIT Biomedical Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: edampadu@chs.edu.gh. 2. Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: liannecremers@live.nl. 3. Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana. Electronic address: cabrown@chs.edu.gh. 4. Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Parasitology, KIT Biomedical Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: p.f.mens@amc.uva.nl. 5. Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Hôpital Albert Schweitzer, Lambaréné, Gabon; Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address: m.p.grobusch@amc.uva.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: One of the malaria vulnerable groups is people living with HIV. This study investigated knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards malaria in people living with HIV attending anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinics in rural and urban Ghana. METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study patients attending the ART clinics in Atibie (rural area) and Accra (urban area) were interviewed on their knowledge, attitude and practices regarding malaria. Finger-prick capillary blood was tested for Plasmodium spp. with rapid diagnostic tests. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the influence of KAP on malaria prevalence. RESULTS: Parasitemia was generally more frequent among HIV positive individuals in the rural area (29/116; 25%) in the rural area than in the urban area (35/350; 10%). Inaccurate knowledge of cause of malaria and prevention methods were associated with increased odds of malaria parasitemia; [OR = 1.51 (CI: 1.29-5.12); p < .05] and [OR = 2.59 (CI: 2.53-4.75); p < .05], respectively. There were disparities in socio-economic factors. For instance, low level of education was higher in the rural area (45/116; 38.8%) compared to the urban area (121/350; 34.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Malaria control efforts may yield further results when the knowledge and socio-economic gap between rural and urban areas is closed.
BACKGROUND: One of the malaria vulnerable groups is people living with HIV. This study investigated knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards malaria in people living with HIV attending anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinics in rural and urban Ghana. METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study patients attending the ART clinics in Atibie (rural area) and Accra (urban area) were interviewed on their knowledge, attitude and practices regarding malaria. Finger-prick capillary blood was tested for Plasmodium spp. with rapid diagnostic tests. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the influence of KAP on malaria prevalence. RESULTS: Parasitemia was generally more frequent among HIV positive individuals in the rural area (29/116; 25%) in the rural area than in the urban area (35/350; 10%). Inaccurate knowledge of cause of malaria and prevention methods were associated with increased odds of malaria parasitemia; [OR = 1.51 (CI: 1.29-5.12); p < .05] and [OR = 2.59 (CI: 2.53-4.75); p < .05], respectively. There were disparities in socio-economic factors. For instance, low level of education was higher in the rural area (45/116; 38.8%) compared to the urban area (121/350; 34.6%). CONCLUSIONS:Malaria control efforts may yield further results when the knowledge and socio-economic gap between rural and urban areas is closed.
Authors: Patience B Tetteh-Quarcoo; Nicholas T K D Dayie; Kevin Kofi Adutwum-Ofosu; John Ahenkorah; Emmanuel Afutu; Seth K Amponsah; Mubarak Abdul-Rahman; James-Paul Kretchy; Janet Y Ocloo; Nicholas I Nii-Trebi; Akua K Yalley; Oheneba C K Hagan; Benjamin P Niriwa; Chukwuemeka C Aghasili; Fleischer C N Kotey; Eric S Donkor; Patrick F Ayeh-Kumi; Emilia Asuquo Udofia Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-26 Impact factor: 3.390