A Descriptive Study of the Knowledge-Base of Malaria between the Visually-impaired and the Non-Visually impaired in Two Primary Schools in Lagos, Nigeria; implications for health education
Abstract
Background: The study was carried out in two primary schools in
Lagos State, Nigeria. One hundred students were from Pacelli School
for the Blind and one hundred and sixty-four students were from
Onitolo Primary School, a main stream school. The study compared
the knowledge base of the two groups on malaria prevention and
treatment options. Approval for the study was granted by the Ethics
Committee of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria and
consent was sought from parents/guardians of the students and from
the principals of the two schools.
Method: The instrument of data collection was a close ended questionnaire.
The average time it took to fill the questionnaire was twenty
minutes. Analysis of categorical variables was done by Chi-Square
Analysis.
Results: The respondents from Pacelli School for the Blind were
older than the respondents from Onitolo Primary School when matched
by class in primary school (P < 0.05). The majority of the respondents
were Yorubas, 178 (70.5%). In Pacelli School, the number
of males that were visually-impaired was more than the number of
females (P < 0.05).
There was a statistically significant difference on their knowledge
base on the cause of malaria (P < 0.05). The students from Pacelli
School 92 (92%) knew that malaria was caused by mosquitoes and
only 75 (45.7%) of the respondents from Onitolo knew that malaria
was caused by mosquitoes. The age at which respondents from Pacelli
School became visually impaired was not statistically related to the
correct knowledge that malaria was caused by mosquito (P < 0.05).
The number of respondents that preferred the parenteral route for
treatment of malaria was fewer in Pacelli School than in Onitolo School
(P < 0.05). A greater number of respondents from Pacelli School did
not like to take malaria tablets because the malaria tablets were bitter
(P < 0.05). The major source of information about malaria from
both schools was from their doctors and other health personnel 116
(43.9 %). When the responses from both groups were combined, the
least source of information about malaria in both groups was from
teacher/school 27 (10.2%).
Two hundred and twenty-seven (85%) of the respondents would
choose a doctor as their health-care provider if they had malaria (P >
0.05). In Pacelli School, 44 (44%) of the respondents had had malaria
in the past twelve months. In Onitolo School, 49 (29.9%) of the respondents
had had malaria in the past twelve months. There was no
statistically significant difference in the number of times both groups
had had malaria in the past twelve months.
Conclusion: There were more visually-impaired males in Pacelli
School than females. There was a statistically significant difference
on their knowledge base on the cause of malaria. More students from
Pacelli School had the correct knowledge on the cause of malaria.
The major source of information about malaria from both schools
was from their doctors and other health personnel. Teacher/School
was the least source of information about malaria when responses
from both schools were combined. Health Education on preventable
diseases like malaria should be strengthened in both schools. More
schools for the visually-impaired should be replicated across the states
in Nigeria and more schools for the visually-impaired should be
replicated in Lagos State.
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