PERCEPTION TOWARDS MALARIA IN PERI-URBAN COMMUNITIES IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Malaria is a major problem in most developing African countries in Nigeria. The study therefore examines the perception of residents of peri-urban communities towards Malaria.

The study employed a cross-sectional survey research that is guided by the Health Belief Model using quantitative methods of data collection. The study employed multi-staged sampling technique to select 414 households in Abaji and Kuje peri-urban communities in Abuja. However, 385 household residents of peri-urban communities participated in the study. The validated questionnaire has a Cronbach alpha of 0.83 and perception towards malaria had a Cronbach had 0.88. Research questions and hypothesis were formulated and were tested using the SPSS version 27 to compute descriptive and inferential statistics which were tested at a 5% level of confidence.

Majority of respondents 47.5% are above the age of 36years with the mean age of 47.1± 19.8. In terms of the Perception about malaria, majority of the respondents 35.7% had high perceived serious of the illness while most of the residents, 38.2% had low level of barrier with the mean score of 17.2±.0.2.61. From the test of hypothesis, perceived susceptibility and perceived barriers was significant predictor of perception of malaria occurrence among household residents of Peri-Urban communities with 71.6% contribution to perception towards malaria among household residents of Peri-Urban communities (p=0.000).

In conclusion, there was high perceived seriousness of malaria while there was low level of perceived barrier toward malaria. There is communication messages developed in local languages about the prevention of Malaria in Urban and Peri-Urban communities.