Knowledge, awareness, and practice (KAP) level of parasite infection among adults in Selangor, Malaysia

Mehru Nisha (1) , Nurul Nadiah Ab Talib (2) , Naim Khir (3) , Intan Sufinaz Daud (4) , Fabian Davamani (5)
(1) Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Institute of Medical Science Technology (MESTECH), 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia, Malaysia ,
(2) Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Institute of Medical Science Technology (MESTECH), 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia, Malaysia ,
(3) Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Institute of Medical Science Technology (MESTECH), 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia, Malaysia ,
(4) Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Institute of Medical Science Technology (MESTECH), 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia, Malaysia ,
(5) International Medical University (IMU), Bukit Jalil-57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysia

Abstract

Parasites are live organism that lives in a host to obtain the nutrients for their survival. Parasitic infections are commonly as seen in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. These parasitic infections can be caused by protozoa, helminths and ectoparasites. However, the knowledge of parasitic infections could vary among the adults in urban or semi urban areas where parasitic infections are rare among them. This study was conducted to detect the level of knowledge, awareness and practice of parasite infection among adults in Selangor. The study was conducted using an online questionnaire. Around 59 participants from Selangor district in the age group of 21 to 60 years responded to the questionnaire. The results of this research was analysed by Google Docs software. According to the result obtained, the level of knowledge, awareness and practice of adults towards parasite infection is highly satisfactory. As majority of participants (76.3%, n=45) are familiar with the symptom of intestinal parasitic infection, majority of contributors (93.2%, n=55) practice the correct way in processing the meat by cooking the meat thoroughly, and some of the participants (14.9%, n=9) were aware of malaria as the high risk of being contagious in Selangor district. The level of knowledge, awareness and practice of parasite infection among adults in Selangor is adequately high. However, it is still necessary for these populations to get more exposed the information on parasite infection.

Full text article

Generated from XML file

References

Acka, C.A., Raso, G., N’Goran, E.K., Tschannen, A.B., Bogoch, I.I., Séraphin, E., Tanner, M., Obrist, B., Utzinger, J. 2010. Parasitic Worms: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Western Côte d’Ivoire with Implications for Integrated Control. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 4(12): e910.

Al-Abd, N.M., Nor, Z.M., Ahmed, A., Al-Adhroey, A.H., Mansor, M., Kassim, M. 2014. Lymphatic filariasis in Peninsular Malaysia: a cross-sectional survey of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of residents. Parasites & Vectors, 7(1):1–9.

Delmege, J.A. 1920. Malaria Prevention. Journal of the Royal Sanitary Institute, 41(2):98–102.

Deressa, W., Ali, A., Enquoselassie, F. 2004. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice About Malaria, the Mosquito and Antimalarial Drugs in a Rural Community. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 17(2):100–105.

Kuma, T., Deressa, B., Alem, F., Tigre, W. 2013. Farmer’s Awareness and Practices on Rabies, Bovine Tuberculosis, Taeniasis, Hydatidosis and Brucellosis in Mana and Limmukosa Districts of Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. World Applied Sciences Journal, 23(6):782–787.

Maia, M.F., Kliner, M., Richardson, M., Lengeler, C., Moore, S.J. 2018. Mosquito repellents for malaria prevention. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018(2):CD011595.

Mayo Clinic 2019. Ringworm (body). Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition.

Nasr, N.A., Al-Mekhlafi, H.M., Ahmed, A., Roslan, M., Bulgiba, A. 2013. Towards an effective control programme of soil-transmitted helminth infections among Orang Asli in rural Malaysia. Part 1: Prevalence and associated key factors. Parasites & Vectors, 6(1).

Nissapatorn, V., Lim, Y.A., Jamaiah, I., Agnes, L.S., Amyliana, K., Wen, C.C., Anuar, A.K. 2005. Parasitic infections in Malaysia: changing and challenges. Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health, 36((suppl 4)):50–59.

Norhayati, M., Fatmah, M.S., Yusof, S., Edariah, A. B. 2003. Intestinal parasitic infections in man: a review. Medical Journal of Malaysia, 58(2):296– 305.

Okello, A., Thomas, L. 2017. Human taeniasis: current insights into prevention and management strategies in endemic countries. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, Volume 10:107–116.

Rogan, M. 2005. WHO/FAO/OIE Guidelines for the Surveillance, Prevention and Control of Taeniosis/Cysticercosis (ed. Murrell, K. D.). pp. 139. OIE, Paris, France, ISBN 92 9044 656. Parasitology, 131(6), 856.

Sarawak. 2018. 32,435 dengue cases recorded in Jan- June 2018. Borneo Post Online, Published on: July 8, 2018.

Syed, M., Saleem, T., Syeda, U.R., Habib, M., Zahid, R., Bashir, A., Saleem, S. 2010. Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding dengue fever among adults of high and low socioeconomic groups. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 60(3):243– 247.

World Health Organization 2020. Vector-borne diseases. “Mosquito-Borne Diseases”. Accessed on: 05 Jan 2021.

Yaya, S., Uthman, O. A., Amouzou, A., Bishwajit, G. 2018. Mass media exposure and its impact on malaria prevention behaviour among adult women in sub-Saharan Africa: results from malaria indicator surveys. Global Health Research and Policy, 3(1):20.

Zakai, H. 2007. Level of Awareness about Parasitic Diseases among Students, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Journal of King Abdulaziz University-Medical Sciences, 14(2):37–47.

Authors

Mehru Nisha
mehrunisha@unikl.edu.my (Primary Contact)
Nurul Nadiah Ab Talib
Naim Khir
Intan Sufinaz Daud
Fabian Davamani
Mehru Nisha, Nurul Nadiah Ab Talib, Naim Khir, Intan Sufinaz Daud, & Fabian Davamani. (2021). Knowledge, awareness, and practice (KAP) level of parasite infection among adults in Selangor, Malaysia. International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 12(2), 1632–1638. Retrieved from https://ijrps.com/home/article/view/311

Article Details

No Related Submission Found