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Malaria in children and women of childbearing age: infection prevalence, knowledge and use of malaria prevention tools in the province of Nyanga, Gabon
Jean Bernard LEKANA-DOUKI
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
Corresponding Author
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View the published version at Malaria Journal.
Background There is little information on the social perception of malaria and the use of preventative measures in Gabon, especially in rural areas. Adequate knowledge of malaria prevention and control can help in reducing the burden of malaria among vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women and children under five years old living in malaria-endemic settings. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of malaria and the knowledge and attitude towards this disease in households in Nyanga Province.
Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess malaria knowledge, prevention practices and prevalence of the malaria infection in five departments of Nyanga Province. Plasmodial infection was diagnosed in children ≤5 years of age and women aged 15-49 years using rapid diagnostic tests. A questionnaire was administered randomly to women aged 15-49 years and to the parents or guardians of children aged ≤5 years in 535 households during a 2-week period in March 2018. Overall, the respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of malaria, malaria prevention practices and malaria prevalence were evaluated and compared across the five departments.
Results Data from a total of 1,307 participants were included in this study, including 631 women of childbearing age (61 of them pregnant) and 676 children. Practically the entire (97.7%) interviewed population had heard about malaria and attributed the cause of malaria to a mosquito bite (95.7%). This survey revealed that the reported rate of reported bed-net use was 73.3%. The study observed an average malaria parasite prevalence of 13.9%. All departmental capitals of Nyanga Province had a significant level of malaria infection except for Mayumba where no plasmodial infection was found
Conclusion High malaria prevalence is found in the departmental capital cities of Nyanga Province. This study reveals that respondents have a high knowledge of the malaria symptoms, its mode of transmission and preventive measures. Despite this high level of knowledge of the disease and its preventive measures, the incidence of malaria remains relatively high in this rural community highlighting the need for other types of interventions.
Keywords
Malaria, prevalence, preventive measures, pregnant women, children, Gabon, Nyanga
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
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Posted 10 Sep, 2020
Published
On 02 Nov, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 04 Sep, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 04 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 03 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 03 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor Revision
On 27 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 11 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 10 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 03 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 03 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 31 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 22 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 21 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 21 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 13 Jul, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor Revision
On 13 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 20 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 16 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 14 Jun, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 13 Jun, 2020
Editor assigned
On 29 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 28 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 28 May, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 26 Mar, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 21 Mar, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 25 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 19 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Feb, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 08 Feb, 2020
Editor assigned
On 01 Feb, 2020
First submitted
On 31 Jan, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 31 Jan, 2020
Editor invited
On 31 Jan, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Infectious Diseases
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This preprint is under consideration at Malaria Journal. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Malaria in children and women of childbearing age: infection prevalence, knowledge and use of malaria prevention tools in the province of Nyanga, Gabon
Jean Bernard LEKANA-DOUKI
Centre International de Recherches Medicales de Franceville
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 4
Posted 10 Sep, 2020
Published
On 02 Nov, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 04 Sep, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 04 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 03 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 03 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor Revision
On 27 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 11 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 10 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 03 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 03 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 31 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 22 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 21 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 21 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 13 Jul, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor Revision
On 13 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 20 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 16 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 14 Jun, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 13 Jun, 2020
Editor assigned
On 29 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 28 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 28 May, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 26 Mar, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 21 Mar, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 25 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 19 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Feb, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 08 Feb, 2020
Editor assigned
On 01 Feb, 2020
First submitted
On 31 Jan, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 31 Jan, 2020
Editor invited
On 31 Jan, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Infectious Diseases
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at Malaria Journal.
Background There is little information on the social perception of malaria and the use of preventative measures in Gabon, especially in rural areas. Adequate knowledge of malaria prevention and control can help in reducing the burden of malaria among vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women and children under five years old living in malaria-endemic settings. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of malaria and the knowledge and attitude towards this disease in households in Nyanga Province.
Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess malaria knowledge, prevention practices and prevalence of the malaria infection in five departments of Nyanga Province. Plasmodial infection was diagnosed in children ≤5 years of age and women aged 15-49 years using rapid diagnostic tests. A questionnaire was administered randomly to women aged 15-49 years and to the parents or guardians of children aged ≤5 years in 535 households during a 2-week period in March 2018. Overall, the respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of malaria, malaria prevention practices and malaria prevalence were evaluated and compared across the five departments.
Results Data from a total of 1,307 participants were included in this study, including 631 women of childbearing age (61 of them pregnant) and 676 children. Practically the entire (97.7%) interviewed population had heard about malaria and attributed the cause of malaria to a mosquito bite (95.7%). This survey revealed that the reported rate of reported bed-net use was 73.3%. The study observed an average malaria parasite prevalence of 13.9%. All departmental capitals of Nyanga Province had a significant level of malaria infection except for Mayumba where no plasmodial infection was found
Conclusion High malaria prevalence is found in the departmental capital cities of Nyanga Province. This study reveals that respondents have a high knowledge of the malaria symptoms, its mode of transmission and preventive measures. Despite this high level of knowledge of the disease and its preventive measures, the incidence of malaria remains relatively high in this rural community highlighting the need for other types of interventions.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3