Table 2.
General knowledge on malaria as observed among the healthcare professionals working for the healthcare institutions at the primary level of care of the PHM
| Physicians n = 14; n (%) |
Other staff n = 31; n (%) |
Total n = 45; n (%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspected disease upon encountering a febrile patient | |||
| Malaria | 11 (78.6) | 30 (96.8) | 41 (91.1) |
| Dengue | 11 (78.6) | 15 (48.4) | 26 (57.8) |
| Chikungunya | 9 (64.3) | 9 (29.0) | 18 (40.0) |
| Zika | 9 (64.3) | 8 (25.8) | 17 (37.8) |
| Other | 4 (28.6) | 6 (19.4) | 10 (22.2) |
| Methods for diagnosis | |||
| Thick blood smear and RDTs | 12 (85.7) | 29 (93.6) | 41 (91.1) |
| Malaria-related symptoms | |||
| Classic triad | 0 (0.0) | 3 (9.7) | 3 (6.7) |
| Fever | 14 (100.0) | 30 (96.8) | 44 (97.8) |
| Cephalea | 6 (42.9) | 18 (58.1) | 24 (53.3) |
| Diaphoresis | 2 (14.3) | 4 (12.9) | 6 (13.3) |
| Chills | 1 (7.1) | 11 (35.5) | 12 (26.7) |
| Myalgia | 5 (35.7) | 8 (25.8) | 13 (29.0) |
| Arthralgia | 6 (42.9) | 8 (25.8) | 14 (31.1) |
| General exanthema | 0 (0.0) | 4 (12.9) | 4 (8.9) |
| General discomfort | 4 (28.6) | 9 (29.0) | 13 (28.9) |
| Abdominal pain | 2 (14.3) | 1 (3.2) | 3 (6.7) |
| Pruritus | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.2) | 1 (2.2) |
| Conjunctivitis | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.2) | 1 (2.2) |
| Vomiting | 1 (7.1) | 3 (9.7) | 4 (8.9) |
| Retro-ocular pain | 3 (21.4) | 3 (9.7) | 6 (13.3) |
| Severe symptoms | |||
| Persistent fever | 3 (21.4) | 6 (19.4) | 9 (20.0) |
| Persistent vomiting | 0 (0.0) | 3 (9.7) | 3 (6.7) |
| Altered consciousness | 2 (14.3) | 3 (9.7) | 5 (11.1) |
| Seizures | 1 (7.1) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.2) |
| Jaundice | 3 (21.4) | 2 (6.5) | 5 (11.1) |
| Haemorrhage | 4 (28.6) | 3 (9.7) | 7 (15.6) |
| Signs of dehydration | 5 (35.7) | 6 (19.4) | 11 (24.4) |
| Hyperparasitaemia | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Causal agent | |||
| Plasmodium | 11 (78.6) | 9 (29.0) | 20 (44.4) |
| Transmission mechanism | |||
| Mosquito bite | 14 (100.0) | 30 (96.8) | 44 (97.8) |
| Transmitting vector | |||
| Anopheles | 7 (50.0) | 11 (35.5) | 18 (40.0) |
| Plasmodium that infects humans | |||
| At least 2 species | 12 (85.7) | 21 (67.7) | 33 (73.3) |
| At least 3 species | 6 (42.9) | 4 (12.9) | 10 (22.2) |
| Plasmodium species circulating in the country | |||
| P. vivax and P. falciparum | 9 (64.3) | 17 (54.8) | 26 (57.6) |
| Prevention and control measures | |||
| Repellent | 10 (71.4) | 24 (77.4) | 34 (75.6) |
| Adequate clothing | 3 (21.4) | 9 (29.0) | 12 (26.7) |
| Mosquito net | 12 (85.7) | 24 (77.4) | 36 (80.0) |
| Fumigation | 4 (28.6) | 1 (3.2) | 5 (11.1) |
| Intra-domiciliary spraying | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Controlling breeding sites | 11 (78.6) | 26 (83.9) | 37 (82.2) |