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Assessment of knowledge about malaria and LLIN ownership and its use in Bankura, West Bengal
Arpita Dey1, Asit Kumar Biswas2, Kingsuk Jana3, Ardhendu Kumar Maji3, Pabitra Saha4
1 Institute of Public Health Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal, India
2 Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, Swasthya Bhavan, Salt Lake City, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
3 Protozoology Unit, Dept. of Microbiology, Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
4 Protozoology Unit, Dept. of Microbiology, Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata; Department of Zoology, P. R. Thakur Govt. College, Ganti, Thakurnagar, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India
Correspondence Address:
Pabitra Saha,
Protozoology Unit, Dept. of Microbiology, Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, 108, C. R. Avenue, Kolkata-700073, West Bengal, India.
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None DOI: 10.4103/0972-9062.361164
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Background & objectives: Community participation is one of the key factor for implementation and success of any public health programme which depends upon knowledge about that disease. Therefore, understanding the community knowledge about malaria is important for designing sustainable control programmes. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge about malaria, to evaluate LLIN distribution and their use by LQAS method in endemic areas of Bankura district.
Methods: It was a community based cross-sectional survey conducted in Bankura during December,2019 - March,2020. Structured questionnaire under four categories: socio-demographic variables, knowledge of malaria, owner ship of LLIN and its use were used for interview. Ownership of LLIN and its use were analysed by LQAS method. Data were analysed by binary logistic regression model and chi square test using SPSS software.
Results: Out of 456 respondents, 88.59% had good knowledge, 97.37% had good ownership of LLIN and 78.95% used LLIN properly. The knowledge about malaria was significantly associated with education level (p-value<0.0001). Out of 24 lots studied 3, 2, 4 lots were underperforming in respect to knowledge, ownership of LLIN and its use, respectively.
Interpretation & conclusion: The study population had a good knowledge about malaria. In spite of good coverage of LLIN distribution, the use of LLIN was not up to the mark. LQAS analysis showed underperformance in few lots about knowledge, ownership of LLIN and its use. The IEC and BCC activities about LLIN should be done to achieve the impact of this intervention at the community level.
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