Malaria perceptions: Influence on preventive practices, illness management, and malaria control services accessed

Date of Publication

7-2009

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Health Social Science

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Behavioral Sciences

Thesis Adviser

Myla M. Arcinas

Defense Panel Member

Ma. Elena Chiong Javier
Ma. Teresa G. De Guzman

Abstract/Summary

A descriptive research using quantitative approach, the study aimed to describe how the households perceptions on the etiology and transmission of malaria influence their preventive practices, illness management, and access to malaria control services. The households perceptions on malaria etiology and transmission were investigated. The study also looked into the prevailing preventive practices observed by the households. It then determined the strategies they employed in managing the disease. Finally, it examined the malaria control services accessed by them. Sixty mothers from Barangay Luzviminda, Puerto Princesa City were chosen as respondents through simple random sampling. Data collected through survey using semi-structured interview schedule were analyzed through frequency count, percentage, ranking, mean, linear regression and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient. Respondents belong to the young middle age group, with average number of family and household members. A large percentage of them are married, have attained a high school undergraduate level of education, and are housekeepers. Findings revealed that the respondents have high perception on malaria etiology and transmission described as very satisfactory; they often observed practices - avoiding contact with vector an controlling vector density - that would prevent them from contaminating with malaria; they made use of the combined strategies, non-utilization and utilization of health care facilities, in managing the illness; and they have high level of access of malaria control services. Statistical test results revealed that the households high level of perceptions did not influence the frequency of the observance of the practices on malaria prevention. Further, it indicates that their high level of perceptions did not influence the coverage of their choice of strategies employed in managing malaria in the household. Lastly, it signifies that the high level of perceptions did influence the extent of their choice of the services on malaria control offered to them. Environmental factors such as hot climate, financial difficulty, community's existing norms, circumstantial factors, influence of significant others, exposure, and experiences can be cited as reasons on the considerable gap between the respondents perceptions and the aforementioned variables associated. Hence, behavior is not just a consequence of knowledge of something where decision would be made from. Decision to utilize or not the health care facilities and to avail or not the malaria control services do not merely depend on the peoples perceptions.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Accession Number

CDTG004647; TG04647

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

1 computer optical disc ; 4 3/4 in.

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