Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding malaria in people living with HIV in rural and urban Ghana
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Date
2018-05
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Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Abstract
Background: One of the malaria vulnerable groups is people living with HIV. This study investigated knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards malaria in people living with HIV attending anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinics in rural and urban Ghana. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study patients attending the ART clinics in Atibie (rural area) and Accra (urban area) were interviewed on their knowledge, attitude and practices regarding malaria. Finger-prick capillary blood was tested for Plasmodium spp. with rapid diagnostic tests. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the influence of KAP on malaria prevalence. Results: Parasitemia was generally more frequent among HIV positive individuals in the rural area (29/116; 25%) in the rural area than in the urban area (35/350; 10%). Inaccurate knowledge of cause of malaria and prevention methods were associated with increased odds of malaria parasitemia; [OR = 1.51 (CI: 1.29–5.12); p < .05] and [OR = 2.59 (CI: 2.53–4.75); p < .05], respectively. There were disparities in socio-economic factors. For instance, low level of education was higher in the rural area (45/116; 38.8%) compared to the urban area (121/350; 34.6%). Conclusions: Malaria control efforts may yield further results when the knowledge and socio-economic gap between rural and urban areas is closed. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.
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Keywords
Attitude, Ghana, HIV, Knowledge, Malaria, Practice