Global Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Perception of Malaria and Treatment Seeking Behaviour among Rural Dwellers in Nigeria

Akpenpuun Joyce Rumun and Mpem Terungwa

Malaria is the most important parasitic disease in the tropics and remains of highest public health importance. About 90% of all malaria deaths in the world today occur in Africa. An estimated one million people in Africa die from malaria each year and most of these are children under five years old The factors determining the health behaviours may be seen in various contexts: physical, socio-economic, cultural and political. Therefore, the utilization of a health care system, public or private, formal or non-formal, may depend on socio-demographic factors, social structures, level of education, cultural beliefs and practices, gender discrimination, status of women, economic and political systems, environmental conditions, and the disease pattern and health care system itself. Malaria remains a major Public Health problem in Nigeria and causes death and illness in children and adults, especially pregnant women. The objective of this review is to look at the following areas: malaria epidemiology; the burden of malaria on Nigerian rural dwellers; perception and treatment seeking behaviour of rural dwellers; and treatment sources of the rural dwellers.