Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Malaria Prevention towards Population in Paksong District Champasack Province, Lao PDR

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1 - 30 January 2009 to assess the current state of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding malaria prevention in the population in Paksong district, Champasack Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic  (Lao PDR). Four hundred and one subjects age 16 - 60 were recruited in this study and a structure questionnaire was used to gather the data. Chi-square was used for analyze an association between independent and dependent variables. The results showed that 59.1% of respondents had good knowledge, 33.2% had good attitude while only 5.7% had good practice regarding malaria prevention. The study found that education, occupation, monthly family income, length of stay, marital status and ever hearing of malaria were significantly associated with knowledge on malaria prevention (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.007 and p<0.001, respectively), highly significant association were also found between attitude and occupation, monthly family income, length of stay and education (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.002, p=0.020, respectively). Moreover, there were strong association between occupation, monthly family income and gender with practice on malaria prevention (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.017, respectively). In conclusion health education program with direct interaction to community should be emphasized in order to improve the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding malaria prevention.