Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Malaria Prevention towards Karen Ethnic Group in Umpiem Mai Refugee Camp, Phobphra District, Tak Province

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 17 - 28 March 2008 to assess the current state of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding malaria prevention towards Karen ethnic group in Umpiem Mai refugee camp, Phobphra District, Tak Province. Three hundred seventy nine subjects age 15-60 were recruited in this study and a structured questionnaire was used to gathers the data. Chi-square was used to analyze association between independent and dependent variables. The result shows that 61.7% of respondents had good knowledge, 40.1% had good attitude while only 1% had good practice regarding malaria prevention. The study reveals that education, total family income and receiving information about malaria are significant associate with knowledge (p = 0.019, p = 0.021 and p = 0.005 respectively), highly significant association between education and attitude (p <0.001) and the association between total family income and history of malaria with practice (p <0.001 and p = 0.043). In conclusion, health education program with community participation should be emphasized in order to improve the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding malaria prevention.