International Journal of Advances In Case Reports

WITCHES HAVE CHASED ME OUT OF MY VILLAGE: KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS ABOUT MALARIA IN NANUN, NORTHERN GHANA

Ziblim Shamsu-Deen*

Zshamsu72@gmail.com

Witches, Knowledge, Perception, Malaria, Nanun.

Various attempts at eradicating malaria in the developing world have proved futile and the prevalence of the disease continues to contribute the highest to the disease burden in Africa, both in terms of morbidity and mortality as well as the cost to economic development. This study attempted to find out the level of knowledge and perceptions people have about the disease in the Nanumba North District. A total of 200 respondents were sampled using a multi-stage sampling approach for the cross-sectional survey. Questionnaires were then administered to household heads and other respondents selected through systematic random sampling. The study revealed among others that, knowledge about malaria in terms of its real cause is low. The disease was attributed to exposure to sunshine, witch crafts, eating of certain foods, heavy rains, and mosquitoes. Superstition and attributing the cause of the disease to witch craft was also found to be high in the district. Knowledge on the signs and symptoms of the disease however was quiet high, but it did not translate into proper treatment of the disease. Herbs were found to be the most used in the treatment of malaria. The study also discovered that, the mobile drug sellers are the most common source of drugs for the treatment of malaria, but most drugs used are not anti-malaria drugs. The official health delivery system is not easily accessible to many people either due to the physical distance to health facilities or economic hindrances. Use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) is low. The study recommends that, the District Health Directorate should step up public education on the real cause of malaria, encourage people to register with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and expand primary health care for rural communities. The mobile drug sellers should be given training and monitored to effectively serve as a conduit for drugs and information to reach the remote parts of the district.