Consumers’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour on Lassa fever in Akinyele Oyo State, Nigeria

Tiamiyu, Kehinde A. (2019): Consumers’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour on Lassa fever in Akinyele Oyo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The recent outbreak of Lassa fever in some parts of the country brings to the fore the need to examine the knowledge, attitude and behavior of citizens towards Lassa fever control/prevention. Lack of basic knowledge and awareness of its endemicity could constitute greater risk to the society. Descriptive Cross-sectional study using a developed validated questionnaire was conducted among 120 members (who are considered to be at risk) of possible endemic areas in four communities of Akinyele Local Government Area. The finding shows that the knowledge of the citizens is still very low as the results indicated that respondents don’t know the cause of the disease; the attitude and behaviour of citizens towards lassa fever prevention/control is negative. The result further establishes that gender does not affect community citizens’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards Lassa fever prevention/control. Lassa fever constitutes a health hazard in Nigeria, as the inhabitants of this area of Nigeria indulge in habits or activities that favour the spread of lassa fever. There is therefore a need for the development of strategic preventive methods that will stop the spread of the virus. The world is now a ‘global village’, and the previous geographical gap between developing and developed countries has been bridged by international travel disease. Hence, Community involvement and participation is necessary to provide sustainable Lassa fever control. Regular and professional seminars should be held for all healthcare providers on early diagnosis and treatment of Lassa fever, while diagnostic kits should be made available in hospitals.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Knowledge, attitude, behaviour, Lassa fever, citizens
• Subjects: Z - Other Special Topics > Z1 - Cultural Economics ; Economic Sociology ; Economic Anthropology > Z13 - Economic Sociology ; Economic Anthropology ; Social and Economic Stratification

References

Aranoff S.A., Lacy M.A. and Smego R.A.(1997). Viral hemorrhagic fevers In: AranoffSA, editor. Advances in pediatric infectious diseases. St. Louis: Mosby Year Book. p.21-53

Borchet M, Mulangu S, Lefevre P, Tshomba A, Libande ML, Kulidiri A, Muyembe-TamfumJJ, Van der Stuyft P (2007). Use of protective gear and the occurrence occupational Marburg hemorrhagic fever in health workers from Watsa health zone, democratic republic of the congo. Journal of Infectious Diseases 196:S168-75

Bowen M.D., Rollin P.E., Ksiazek T.G., Hustad H.L., Bausch D.G., Demby A.H., Bajani M.P., Peters C.J. and Nichol S.T. (2000). Genetic diversity among Lassa virus strains. Journal of Virology. 74:6992-7004

Fisher-Hoch S.P. (2005). Lessons from nosocomial Viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks. Br Med Bull. 73-74(1):123-137.

Haas W.H., Breuer T, Pfaff G, Schmitz H, Kohler P, Asper M, Emmerich P, Drosten C, Golnitz U Fleischer K, Gunther S (2003). Imported Lassa fever in Germany: surveillance and management of contact persons. Clin. Infect. Dis. 36:1254-1258

Health Protection Agency (2004). The infection hazards of human cadavers. Guidelines on precautions to be taken with cadavers of those who died with a known or suspected infections. (cited 2013 May 27). Available from ; www.hpa-nw.org.uk

Hewlett B.L., Hewlett B.S. (2005). Providing care and facing dealth: Nursing during Ebola outbreaks in central Africa. J Transcult Nurs. 16;289-97

Hidiroglu S.O., Muhammad F.T., Ahmet K.M. (2012). Knowledge and attitude of health care workers in Umraniye, Turkey regarding Crimean Congo heamorrhagic fever. Erclyes Medical Journal. 34(2):73

Kakade N.R. (2012). Study to determine the knowledge and practices regarding prevention of dengue fever among the junior health workers (jhw’s) working in the primary health centers of Belgan Taluka. IOSR-JPBS. 3(6):19-24

Kelly J.D., Barrie M.B., Ross R.A., Temple B.A., Moses L.M. and Bausch D.G. (2003). Housing equity for health equity: a right based approach to the control of Lassa fever in post war Sierra Leone. BMC International Health and Human Rights. 13:2 doi:10.1186/1472-698X-13-2

Keenlyside RA, McCormick JB, Webb PA, Smith E, ElliotL, Johnson KM(1983). Case-control study of Mastomys natalensis and humans in Lassa virus-infected households in Sierra Leone. AmJ Trop Med Hyg. 32:829-37