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Author(s): Oluwaseun Chidera Ajayi (Ph.D.), Rosemary Esosa Ugoh, Ikeoluwa Abisola Ajayi (Ph.D.), Abimbola Obinna Ajayi (Ph.D.), Favour Obi-Nicholas Chinwe.

Volume/Issue: Volume 9, Issue 2 (2026)

Page No: 47-60

Journal: African Journal of Health, Nursing and Midwifery (AJHNM)

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Abstract:

Malaria remains a critical public health concern globally because it is linked to human practices and their living conditions. Malaria is a threat to more than 40% of the world's population. The role of household residents and communities cannot be overemphasized. Hence, the study examined the knowledge and practice of malaria prevention measures among selected peri-urban communities in Abuja. This study adopted cross-sectional survey research using quantitative methods of data collection. A multi-staged sampling technique was used to select 414 households in Abaji and Kuje peri-urban communities in Abuja, of which 385 household residents participated in the study. Research questions were formulated, and data were analysed using SPSS version 27 to compute descriptive statistics. The majority of respondents (47.5%) are above the age of 36years with the mean age of 47.1± 19.8. Findings revealed that knowledge of malaria prevention among the participants was moderate, with participants having correct responses ranging from 59.2%-79.3% across important items for knowledge, like preventive measures, awareness of environmental risk factors, and barriers to malaria prevention and control. Also, practices of malaria prevention were generally high, since many participants reported using malaria prevention and treatment actions such as indoor spraying (32.6%), house cleaning (29.2%), and use of mosquito repellent devices (21.5%). However, the use of insecticide-treated nets was reportedly low (5.6%), and treatment practices such as antimalarial monotherapy and antimalarial combination therapy were varied across the study population. In conclusion, while malaria prevention practices were considerably high, specific gaps in knowledge still exist. The researchers recommend that health education and community-based intervention be strengthened to improve knowledge and sustain the malaria prevention practices in peri-urban communities in Abuja.

Keywords:

Attitude, knowledge, practice, Malaria, occurrence, Peri-urban communities.

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