Awareness on Malaria among Public and Healthcare Providers during the Prevention of Re-Introduction Phase in Sri Lanka

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Prevention of re-introduction/re-establishment of malaria is a challenge for Sri Lanka due to high receptivity and vulnerability. Imported cases are being reported and an introduced case was reported in 2018. The objective of this study was to assess the awareness on malaria among public and healthcare providers which is essential during the prevention of re-introduction/re-establishment phase. METHODOLOGY: Two national surveys were conducted among 3454 households and 766 healthcare providers in 2016. Household survey was conducted using a multistage cluster sampling method. Healthcare providers’ survey used stratified random sampling and a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean awareness score of healthcare providers was 54.7% (SD=10.6). Although 99.1% of healthcare providers (n=759) identified fever as a symptom of malaria, the majority (n=634) had not seen, diagnosed or treated a malaria case during the last 5 years. The mean awareness score of heads of households was 28.6 % (SD = 9.03). 74.4% of heads of households (n=2570) had ever seen/heard messages about malaria; 7.2% (n=249) had seen/heard in the past 6 months. The common media of communication were television (n=2714, 78.6%) and mobile phones (n=2242, 64.9%). The majority knew that malaria is spread by a mosquito bite (92.7%, n=3202) and fever (71.8% n=2479) is a symptom of malaria. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of healthcare providers have not seen a case of malaria; updates on malaria should be regularly given to suspect malaria in the differential diagnosis of fever. Television and mobile phone technology can be used to increase awareness on malaria among the general public.