Comparative Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude/Practices and Prevention of Lassa fever among Community Dwellers and Contacts of Confirmed Patients in Endemic Areas of Ondo State, Nigeria
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Background: The current resurgence and transmission dynamics of Lassa fever (LF) within an endemic community in Nigeria calls for concern. Lassa fever virus is known to be transmitted from rodents to humans as well as from human to human. This study aims to compare the knowledge, attitude/practices and prevention of Community dwellers (CD) and Contacts of confirmed Lassa fever patients (CCP) with respect to LF in an endemic area in Nigeria.
Methodology: This is a comparative cross-sectional study conducted between 2018 and 2019 during an outbreak of LF disease in Ondo State, Nigeria. A total of 250 consenting CD and 104 CCP were randomly selected to participate in this study. They were administered semi-structured questionnaires which were analysed using SPSSv23. Lassa fever disease causative agents, mode of transmission and prevention as well as actions on response to Lassa virus infections were assessed among respondents. Data were analysed and presented using descriptive statistics at 95% confidence interval and (p<0.05) level of significance.
Results: The gender distribution for CD was 116 males and 134 females while for CCP, it was 43 males and 61 females. Furthermore, radio (CD= 55.8%, CCP= 20.8%) and public health campaign (CD= 40.4%, CCP= 26.5%) were the major sources of information on Lassa fever among respondents. A larger fraction of CCP (12.5%) erroneously believe mosquitoes are the mode of transmission of Lassa fever compared to CD (4.2%). Comparison also showed that higher proportion (60.6%) of CCP exhibits poor attitude/practices to Lassa fever infection compared to 4% of CD. Level of education for both CD and CCP respondents were statistically significantly associated with knowledge and prevention of Lassa fever.
Conclusion: Comparatively, our study showed poor awareness on Lassa fever diseases, erroneous believes and need for positive attitudinal changes and practices towards LF prevention and control in affected communities.
Downloads
References
-
J. D. Frame, J. M. Baldwin Jr, D. J. Gocke, J. M. Troup, “Lassa fever, a new virus disease of man from West Africa. I. Clinical description and pathological findings,” Am J Trop Med Hyg., 1970; 19:670-676.
Google Scholar
1
-
O. S. Ilesanmi, B. Omotoso, F. O. Alele, and P. Adewuyi, “Awareness of Lassa fever in a Rural Community in Southwest Nigeria”. Journal of Community Health Research, 2015, 4(1):1-10.
Google Scholar
2
-
C. M. Odionye, L. I. Anorue, and O. Ekwe, “A Knowledge, Attititude and Practice (KAP) Analysis of Lassa fever Media Campaign among Residents of South-East, Nigeria” African Population Studies, 2019, 33(1): 4738-4749.
Google Scholar
3
-
O. Ogbu, E. Ajuluchukwu, and C. J. Uneke, “Lassa fever in West African sub-region: an overview” Journal of Vector Borne Diseases. 2007, 44(1):1-11.
Google Scholar
4
-
G. M. Adewuyi, A. Fowotade, and B. T. Adewuyi, “Lassa fever: Another Infectious Menace” African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology, 2009, 10(3): 144-155.
Google Scholar
5
-
T. Healing, and R. Gopal, “Report on an assessment visit to Sierra Leone,” London: Merlin. April 12th-30th 2001.
Google Scholar
6
-
J. K. Richmond, and D. J. Baglole, “Lassa fever: epidemiology, clinical features, and social consequences.” British Medical Journal, 2003, 327 (7426): 1271-1275.
Google Scholar
7
-
A. W. Olalekan. “Community awareness and perception towards rodent control: implication for prevention and control of Lassa fever in urban slums of south-western Nigeria,” Malta Journal of Health Sciences, 2015; 2: 26-32.
Google Scholar
8
-
E. Tobin, “Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude Towards Lassa Fever Among Primary Care Providers in an Endemic Sub-Urban Community in Edo State: Implications for Control.” Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences. 2013, 4(8): 311-318.
Google Scholar
9
-
A. K. Adefisan, “The Level of Awareness that Rat is a Vector of Lassa Fever among the Rural People in Ijebu-North Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria” Journal of Education and Practice, 2014, 5(37): 166-171.
Google Scholar
10
-
J. O. Wogu, “Mass media awareness campaign and the prevention of the spread of Lassa fever in the rural communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria: Impact evaluation.” Journal of Public Health in Africa, 2018, 9(3): 179 – 184.
Google Scholar
11
-
World Health Organisation. (2017). “Weekly Bulletin on Outbreaks and Other Emergencies”, 1-15.
Google Scholar
12
-
African Union (AU). 2015. The African Union Commission Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want First Ten-Year Implementation Plan 2013-2023. Available: www.au.int/en/agenda2063/aspirations.
Google Scholar
13
-
K. C. Mofolorunsho, “Outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria: measures for prevention and control,” The Pan African Medical Journal, 2016, 23: 210.
Google Scholar
14
-
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. (2017). “Lassa fever Outbreak, Weekly Situation Report No. 04. 1-3”. Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.ng/doc/lassa17.pdf.
Google Scholar
15
-
A. Maxmen. “Deadly outbreak tests Nigerian health agency Reforms made after the Ebola epidemic have boosted Nigeria’s capacity to track diseases” Nature, 2018, 555: 421-422.
Google Scholar
16
-
R. C. Reuben, S. D. Gyar, M. D. Makut, and M. P. Adoga, “Co-epidemics: have measures against COVID-19 helped to reduce Lassa fever cases in Nigeria?” New Microbe and New Infect., 2021; 40(C): 1-7.
Google Scholar
17
-
J. O. Adesoji, M. A. Yinusa, J. A. Adijat, R., Abdulateef, K. Kehinde, I. Akindele, “Knowledge beliefs and sources of information on Lassa fever among residents of a community in Ilorin Nigeria.” Romanian Journal of Sociological Studies, 2016, New Series, 2, 153–166.
Google Scholar
18
-
E. U. Nwonwu, C. Alo, A. F. Una, U. C. Madubueze, I. Eze, N. C, Eze, L. U. Ogbonnaya, and I. C. Akamike, “Knowledge of Lassa fever and Its Determinants among Traders in Izzi Community in South-East Nigeria”. Archives of Current Research International, 2018, 13(4): 1-9.
Google Scholar
19
-
F. Ireye, H. Ejiyere,, A. O. Aigbiremolen O. E. Famiyesin, E. A. Rowland-Udoh, C. O. Ogeyemhe, I. Okudo, A. B. Onimisi, “Knowledge, Attitude and Infection Prevention and Control Practices Regarding Lassa fever among Healthcare Workers in Edo State, Nigeria.” International Journal of Prevention and Treatment 2019, 8(1): 21-27.
Google Scholar
20
-
I. S. Akpan, and A. E. Ekuma, “Lassa fever and Infection Control: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice in A University Teaching Hospital in Uyo, Nigeria.” Ibom Medical Journal 2017. 10(1): 40-47.
Google Scholar
21
-
R. C. Reuben, and S. D. Gyar, “Knowledge, attitudes and practices of Lassa fever in and around Lafia, Central Nigeria.” International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology Research, 2016, 2(1): 014-019.
Google Scholar
22
-
E. O. Ogboghodo, V. Y. Adam, V. O. Omuemu, O. H. Okojie, “Knowledge, Attitude and Preventive Practices against Lassa fever Among Residents in a Rural Community in Southern Nigeria” West African Journal of Medicine, 2019, 36(2):165-171.
Google Scholar
23
-
S. A. Olowookere, C. A., Adegbenro, A., Idowu, A. G., Omisore O. M. Shabi, U. R., Ikem, G. A. Ekwere, and I. F. Oderinde, “Knowledge Attitude and Practices toward Lassa fever Control and Prevention among Residents of Ile-Ife, Southwest Nigeria.” International Quarterly of Community Health Education, 2017. 37(2) 107-112.
Google Scholar
24
Most read articles by the same author(s)
-
Azuka Patrick Okwuraiwe,
Oumar Faye,
Fehintola Anthonia Ige,
Ayorinde Babatunde James,
Joseph Ojonugwa Shaibu,
Martin Faye,
Olufemi Samuel Amoo,
Oumar NDiaye,
Olumuyiwa Babalola Salu ,
Sunday Aremu Omilabu,
Rosemary Ajuma Audu,
Surveillance of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses in Lassa Fever Suspects in Ondo State, Nigeria , European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences: Vol. 4 No. 3 (2022)