Factors That Contribute to High Prevalence of Malaria Among Children Under Five Years Who Are Admitted to Holy Family Hospital, Berekum Pediatric Ward.

Abstract

Background/Introduction Malaria is a potentially fatal acute disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes (Varo, Chaccour, & Bassat, 2020). The disease is attributed to five distinct species of parasites; however, Plasmodium falciparum is the primary contributor to the serious threat posed by malaria, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where the population is significantly affected (Howes, 2019). Objective The main objective of this study is to assess the factors contributing to the high prevalence of malaria among children under five years of age who are admitted to the Pediatric ward at Holy Family Hospital, Berekum. Method A descriptive cross-sectional survey was employed in this study. Participants were selected using a convenient sampling method, resulting in a total sample size of 30 respondents. Results The majority of respondents (96%) identified mosquito bites as the cause of malaria. Common symptoms reported included fever (100%), vomiting (88%), diarrhea (78%), headache (98%), and body pains (90%). Environmental factors contributing to malaria identified by respondents included poor sanitation (98%), bad housing conditions (84%), standing water (6%), and animal population (2%). Preventive measures for malaria included sleeping under mosquito-treated nets (100%), using mosquito repellents (88%), avoiding outdoor exposure at night (70%), wearing protective clothing (50%), and spraying rooms with insecticide (80%). Conclusion Respondents demonstrated a high level of knowledge about malaria and the environmental factors contributing to its spread, including poor sanitation, bad housing conditions, and stagnant water. Additionally, respondents showed good compliance with infection prevention protocols, with the majority (94%) having received training on infection prevention control.