International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) |Volume IX, Issue XII, December 2022|ISSN 2321-2705
Hassan, H.F.1*, Umar, A.F.2, Hassan, N.M.3, Hassan, H.F.4, Ahmed, I.5, Hassan, A.F.4, Atiku, K.J.6, and Hassan, S.F.2
*1Department of Community Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State, Nigeria
2Department of Microbiology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria
3Department of Business Administration, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria
4Women & Children Hospital, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria
5Department of Anatomy, College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria
6Department of surgery, Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author
Abstract: Malaria is one of the most important and widespread disease entity in the tropics. It is caused by the blood coccidian (protozoan plasmodium) parasite. Malaria poses a major concern to both human capital and economic development among others factors in endemic areas of Nigeria. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of malaria management and factors associated with the knowledge of malaria management among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling was used to sample HCWs. Using a cross sectional study, a schedule was used to retrieve data from 223 HCWs. 123 (55.2 %) of the respondents have good knowledge of the management of malaria. More than 50.0 % of the respondents knew the symptoms of malaria and how to treat it. The Pearson’s chi square test for independence revealed no statistically significant association (p ≥ 0.05) between the knowledge of malaria management and the sociodemographic characteristic variables among HCWs. The study indicated that majority of HCWs in the study have good knowledge of malaria management. There are however, many HCWs who still have poor knowledge of malaria management. The knowledge of malaria management indicated no significant relationship with the sociodemographic variables. There is therefore the need for the Government and Hospital Management to ensure regular, proper and continuous medical education of the healthcare workers so as to improve the quality and standards of healthcare service delivery.
Keywords: Knowledge, Plasmodium spp., asymptomatic malaria, healthcare workers and multi-stage sampling method
I. INTRODUCTION
Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a vital role in the provision of healthcare services. However, they are also affected by the occupational health-related problems ranging from communicable to non-communicable diseases in the process (Abegunde et al., 2016). Malaria is a common disease with public health challenges with nearly 50 % of the world’s population (3.28 – 3.4 billion) living in risky environments with poor sanitation and high malaria infections prevalence (Bassey & Izah, 2017; Malaria, n.d.). Malaria is associated with major concerns to both human capital and economic development in