Preliminary assessment on malaria-related knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) amongst visitors at selected recreational parks in Peninsular Malaysia
Malaria is a life-threatening, rampant disease and the newly emerged knowlesi malaria brings a new challenge in the management of this vector borne disease. The transmission of knowlesi malaria is closely associated with the long-tail macaque that can be easily found at near forest. Recreationa...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pusat Sistematik Serangga, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2020
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/16592/1/38014-134236-1-PB.pdf http://journalarticle.ukm.my/16592/ https://ejournal.ukm.my/serangga/issue/view/1296/showToc |
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| Summary: | Malaria is a life-threatening, rampant disease and the newly emerged knowlesi malaria brings
a new challenge in the management of this vector borne disease. The transmission of knowlesi
malaria is closely associated with the long-tail macaque that can be easily found at near forest.
Recreational park is usually located near or in the forest and therefore can be a potential area
for knowlesi malaria transmission due to the nature of the recreational park which is suitable
as habitat not only for long-tail macaque and mosquito that transmit the disease but also a place
that is frequently visited by human population to enjoy outdoor activities. This study aims to
describe the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) amongst visitors of recreational park
with regards to malaria and its prevention. A cross-sectional survey of knowledge, attitudes
and practices was conducted at three recreational parks in Malaysia namely Sungai Kedondong
Recreational Park, Selangor; Sungai Tekala Reserved Forest, Selangor and Chemerong
Reserved Forest, Terengganu. 460 questionnaires were distributed among parks visitors who
are willing to participate in the study on voluntarily basis. Analysis were then performed on
questionnaire that are filled completely by participants. Out of 460 questionnaires distributed
only 296 questionnaires were filled completely. Therefore, all result presented in this study
were based on 68% completed questionnaires. Majority of respondents (80.4%) knew about
malaria where as high as 77% of the respondents were found to have good knowledge about
malaria signs and symptoms. Around 79.1% of the respondents were aware about mosquito as
the vector that transmits malaria. 62.5% of them said that malaria can be prevented by using
repellent to avoid mosquito bite and 62.2% of them applied repellent before performing
outdoor activities at the parks. Although the results obtained may not represent the actual
situation of KAP of park visitors with regards to malaria and its prevention since the number of questionnaires analysed were relatively low, this study nevertheless able to show a pattern
of good understanding among park visitors regarding malaria and its prevention. This
understanding was significantly influence by participants’ level of education. |
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