HayMedics/Research-Project

A Study To Determine The Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Among Women Of Child-Bearing Age In Agbabiaka Community Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State # Research-Project A Study To Determine The Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Among Women Of Child-Bearing Age In Agbabiaka Community Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State Background Malaria is a vector-borne disease caused by Plasmodium species, transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes, and endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. It causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially in rural areas with poor hygiene and inadequate protection. In 2021, there were 247 million cases and 619,000 deaths, mostly in Africa. Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) is a proactive strategy aimed at reducing the burden of malaria among vulnerable children. By administering Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine and Amodiaquine (SPAQ) seasonally to children aged 3 months to 5 years, SMC seeks to decrease malaria's prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. This evidence-based approach is endorsed by the World Health Organization, offering a lifeline to young lives threatened by this preventable disease. Methodology It was a descriptive cross sectional study with a sample size of 197. The study involved the use of cluster-in-cluster sampling techniques with each household representing the individual cluster. The questionnaire was conducted in a face-to-face format, where the interviewer will ask the questions and record the responses directly. The data were encoded and statistically treated for analysis and interpretation using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29. Descriptive and Inferential Statistics (Chi-squared test) were carried out and level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Result The study involved 198 women of child-bearing age in Agbabiaka community. The study found that 56.9% of participants had a favorable perception of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), and 51.8% believed in its effectiveness. However, only 45.7% perceived SMC drugs as safe. The study identified awareness, age group, occupation, and income …