Knowledge and perceived implication of lassa fever among residents of Oke-Ero Local Government Area, Kwara State Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the knowledge and perceived implication of Lassa fever among residents of Oke-Ero Local Government Area, Kwara State. The major occupation of the residents of Oke-Ero is farming. During the dry season, some farmers make use of bush burning method as a mean of clearing their lands, during which many of the rats from the bushes find their ways to neighbourhood houses to hide for safety. This gives them access to food stuffs kept by the residents. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the residents of Oke-Ero Local Government Area, Kwara State have knowledge of transmission of Lassa fever and determine whether death is a perceived implication of Lassa fever among the residents of Oke-Ero Local Government Area, Kwara State. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study comprised of all the residents of Oke-Ero Local Government Area, Kwara State. Multi-stage sampling technique consisting of simple random, proportionate and convenience sampling techniques was used to select a sample size of four hundred and two (402) respondents for the study. A researcher-designed questionnaire validated by three (3) experts from the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental. Health Education, University of Ilorin, Nigeria was used for the data collection. Split half method was used to ascertain the reliability of the instrument. A correlation coefficient (r) of 0.70 was obtained through the use of Cronbach alpha. Data collection was conducted by the researcher and three trained research assistants. Inferential statistics of Chi-square (χ2) was used to analyse the postulated null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance, using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20.0 software. The findings of the study showed that residents of Oke-Ero Local Government Area, Kwara State significantly have knowledge on the transmission of Lassa fever. This was because cal. χ2 value (586.90) is greater than critical value (7.82). Death is significantly perceived as implication of Lassa fever among the residents of Oke-Ero Local Government Area, Kwara State. This was because cal. χ2 value (271.41) is greater than critical value (16.92). Based on the findings, it was concluded that residents of Oke-Ero Local Government Area Kwara State have knowledge of the transmission of Lassa fever, and death is perceived as implication of Lassa fever among the residents of Oke-Ero Local Government area Kwara State. Therefore, the researcher recommended that residents should not leave food items open, so as not to give rats access to their food and cultivate the habit of cleanliness. It is also recommended that, further knowledge on Lassa fever and implication should be intensified and campaigns and health education should be carried out to improve the knowledge of residents about the Lassa fever disease.