KNOWLEDGE BELIEFS AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON LASSA FEVER AMONG RESIDENTS OF A COMMUNITY IN ILORIN NIGERIA
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Sociology, Romanian Academy, Romania
Abstract
The study aimed at assessing the knowledge and sources of information on
Lassa fever among residents of a community in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria. The
objective was to know if the residents of the study population are adequately informed
about the disease. The study was conducted in Irewolede, a community in Ilorin West
Local Government Area of Kwara State. A total of 300 consenting respondents were
systematically selected from the study population while primary data was gathered
through self-administered structured questionnaire. Findings in this study revealed that
respondents have fair knowledge of the disease. Even though all respondents have
heard about this disease through various media like radio, television, newspapers,
magazines and social media, their knowledge is still inadequate being fraught with
misconceptions especially in the means of acquisition, transmission and prevention.
Four hypotheses were tested in the study which indicated a significant relationship
between sex, education, occupation and the knowledge of Lassa fever among the
respondents (p<0.05), while there was no statistically significant relationship between
the age and knowledge of Lassa fever among the respondents (p>0.05). The study
recommended a wider dissemination of adequate information on Lassa fever through
media campaign by all relevant stakeholders.
Description
Keywords
Lassa fever, Viral Haemorrhagic Fever, Rats, Knowledge, Sources of Information, Media, Ilorin, Nigeria