Awareness of risk factors of malaria as an element of primary prophylaxis

• Authors: Sarosiek, J , Van Damme - Ostapowicz, K , Harasim-Piszczatowska, E , Krajewska-Kułak, E

Abstracts

EN

Introduction: Malaria is the most common tropical infectious disease caused by parasitic protozoa, affecting every year about 220 million of people with about 1-3 million deaths. It is known that every 30 seconds one African child dies from malaria. Moreover, malaria as the most common imported tropical disease is the most frequent cause of deaths. Currently, in African countries, every year, about 300-500 million people have malaria, and more than a million die from malaria. A high percentage of deaths refers to children under 5 years old, pregnant women and susceptible individuals. Materials and methods: The examination was carried out from July to September, 2011 year in 60 peoplepatients of the Out-patients Clinic f St. Francis Hospital, in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, using the questionnaire created by author.Results: As many as 96.7% of respondents answered that the best method was avoiding mosquitoes via using bed mosquito nets and protective clothing. A total of 51.7% indicated chemical substances as an effective protective method against malaria. The surveyed named repellents such as liquids, aerosols, creams and sticks. Thirty two people (53.7%) wrote that an effective protective method against malaria was to avoid mosquitoes’ incubation sites, to remove garbage frequently and to clear regularly ponds round the houses.Conclusion: Ugandan patients identified the risk factors and groups, non-key symptoms and prophylaxis against malaria. The majority of Ugandan patients indicated there was vaccine against malaria. More than half of Ugandan patients (65%) declared that a mosquito bite is the route of malaria infection, however, more than 50% of those living in rural areas thought on other routes such as, e.g. unboiled water.

Keywords

EN

Africa; prophylaxis; Malaria

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Medyczny w Białymstoku
• Journal: Progress in Health Sciences
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 42-55

Contributors

author

Sarosiek, J

author

Van Damme - Ostapowicz, K

author

Harasim-Piszczatowska, E

author

Krajewska-Kułak, E