Background & objectives: Oyo is an urban community in Oyo state of south-western Nigeria and
it is holoendemic for malaria. Information was collected on the knowledge, attitudes and practices
(KAP) of inhabitants of Oyo town in relation to malaria.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 192 households with the aid of self- or researcher-administered
questionnaires was carried out to identify factors associated with the disease in the area.
Results: About 93.2% (n=192) of respondents recognized mosquito bites as the cause of malaria. A
small proportion of children (13.7%) and adults (5.3%) received prompt treatment; however, more
adults (65.8%) got correct dosage of antimalarials than children (38.7%). About 90% of suspected
malaria cases in children and adults were first treated at home with local herbs or drugs, purchased
from medicine stores. The use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) was scarce as only 16.7% of
households used them for their children. Other reported malaria prevention methods include the
use of insecticides (79.7%) and herbs (44.3%). In all, 17 (8.9%) of households did not have screening
nets on their windows and 6.3% of 175 households with screening nets on their windows had rusty
and torn nets. The level of education of heads of households was a strong predictor of positive
malaria-related KAP. Window types and environmental hygiene were associated with prevalence
of malaria in households.
Interpretation & conclusion: The control of malaria cannot be achieved without full involvement
of the affected communities; the available tools for control can only be effective and sustainable if
the local communities are mobilized and empowered with knowledge. It is suggested that health
education campaigns be intensified; chemist shop-keepers and mothers being important target
groups.