A Study on the Awareness Observed Among Individuals Living in Endemic Area on the Spread, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention of Malaria

Objective: The objective of the study is to determine, the awareness, among individuals living in endemic area on the spread, symptoms, treatment and prevention of malaria. Materials and Methods: This is a cross sectional study, done among individuals, above 18 years, to determine their awareness on malaria. The subjects were interviewed at health exhibition counter and at the out-patient facility (as accompanying persons), of a tertiary medical facility, and the responses were documented and analysed. Actual patients were not interviewed to avoid any bias on the symptoms and treatment aspects of malaria. Results: A total of 278 adults were interviewed in this study, among which 232 (83.5%) subjects identified malaria as an infection , 4.7% of subjects did not know what causes malaria and 33 (11.9 %) knew that it was non-bacterial infection. A total of 146 (52.5%) identified malaria as a mosquito borne disease. 95.7% (266) of subjects were aware of the major symptoms of malaria. 133 (47.8%) were of the opinion that malaria can be prevented by mosquito control and 211 (75.9%) believed that malaria is completely cured by timely and proper treatment. Among the study subjects 52.5% (146) were practising vector control measures at home. Conclusion: Majority of subjects interviewed were aware of malaria as a disease with mosquito borne spread. This shows that the efforts made by various organisations to educate the public on malaria have been effective. The community participation is not good enough to control malaria and its transmission as evidenced by the subject responses