Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of mothers regarding childhood malaria in southeastern Gabon

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Judicaël Boris Lendongo Wombo, Chérone Nancy Mbani Mpega Ntigui, Lydie Sandrine Oyegue-Liabagui, Euloge Ibinga, Sydney Maghendji-Nzondo, Franck Mounioko, Steede Seinnat Ontoua, Alain Prince Okouga, Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki, Edgard Brice Ngoungou
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2023
• Subjects: Malaria knowledge; Malaria perception; Malaria practices; Maternal perception; Community-based management; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04584-5; https://doaj.org/article/73922bdfcefd49e4af0eeb0d8d6d2516

Abstract Background In Gabon, children under 5 years of age and pregnant women are the populations who are most at risk of malaria. Despite the presence of accessible health facilities, the community-based management of childhood fever remains a very common practice in Gabon, which may have serious consequences on child health. As such, the objective of this descriptive cross-sectional survey is to assess the mothers’ perception and knowledge of malaria and its severity. Methods Different households were selected using the simple random sampling method. Results A total of 146 mothers from different households were interviewed in the city of Franceville, in southern Gabon. Among the households interviewed, 75.3% had a low monthly income (below the minimum monthly income of $272.73). Among the respondents, 98.6% of mothers had heard of malaria and 55.5% had heard of severe malaria. Regarding preventive measures, 83.6% of mothers used an insecticide-treated net as a means of protection. Self-medication was practiced by 68.5% of women (100/146). Discussion The use of health facilities was motivated by better care, the decision of the head of the family, but above all by the severity of the disease. Women identified fever as the main symptom of malaria, which could be beneficial for a quicker and more efficient management of the disease in children. Malaria educational campaigns should also increase awareness of severe forms of malaria and its manifestations. This study shows that Gabonese mothers react quickly when their children have fever. However, several external factors lead them to practice self-medication as a first resort. In this survey population, the practice of self-medication did not depend on social status, marital status, level of education, on the young age or inexperience of mothers (p > 0.05). Conclusions The data revealed that mothers may underestimate severe malaria and delay medical care by self-medicating, which can have detrimental effects for children and hinder the regression of the ...