Impact of Maternal Education and Preventive Practices on Childhood Malaria in Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State
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Abstract
The level of education of mothers, as well as their approach to disease prevention, plays a crucial role in the malaria outcomes of their children. This study investigated the effects of mothers’ educational status, approaches to malaria prevention, and treatment-seeking behaviours on childhood malaria in the Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. Atotal of 410 children and their mothers/caregivers (352) were assessed using a structured questionnaire and blood sample analysis to ascertain the malaria infection rate. The overall infection rate was 42.9 % (176/410), which varied significantly by age, with children aged 13–15 months having the lowest infection rate (25%: 6/24) and children aged 16–18 months having the highest infection rate (100%: 4/4). When compared with the 0-3months age group, the highest infection odds were observed in children above 24months of age. The findings showed that children of mothers with no formal (50%: 2/4) and primary education (50%: 6/12) had the highest malaria prevalence, while those whose mothers attained tertiary education (40.2:66/164) had the lowest. Similarly, higher infection odds were observed in children whose mothers had no formal or primary education (OR=1.4) compared with those whose mothers attained tertiary education. Those who did not use LLINs also had higher odds of infection (OR=1.1) than LLIN users. Children from families that used LLINs had a lower malaria prevalence, 122(42.4%:122/288), than those from families that did not use nets (44.3%: 54/122). The main determinants of choice of treatment location were medical personnel competence 218(61.9%:218/352), followed by proximity (17%: 60/352) and drug affordability (10.8%: 38/352). Most mothers (98.9%: 348/352) employed drug based treatments, and preventive measures such as the use of LLINs (70.5%: 248/352), window nets (76.7%: 270/352), and cleaning the surroundings (92%: 324/352) were highly adopted. In conclusion, strategies to improve maternal education, emphasise correct LLIN use, and ensure timely access to competent healthcare services are recommended to decrease the burden of malaria in children in endemic areas.
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