Malaria Knowledge, Attitudes, Preventive Practices and Use of Malaria-Control Measures among Adults in Gabasawa Local Government Area, Kano State, Nigeria

                @article{CRSIJ26000520,
                  author = {Rabiu Abba, Bode O.O, Abba Madaki Abba, Umar Mamuda, Saddiku Bala Hussain, Sagiru Hallai Gambo},
                  title = {Malaria Knowledge, Attitudes, Preventive Practices and Use of Malaria-Control Measures among Adults in Gabasawa Local Government Area, Kano State, Nigeria},
                  journal = {Cosmo Research and Science International Journal},
                  year = {2026},
                  volume = {2},
                  number = {3},
                  pages = {1-10},
                  issn = {3108-1584},
                  url = {https://cosmorsij.com/published/CRSIJ26000520.pdf},
                  abstract = {Malaria control in Nigeria has focused strongly on children and pregnant women, while less is known about malaria-related knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices among adults in rural northern communities. This study described malaria knowledge, attitudes, preventive practices and use of malaria-control measures among 388 adults aged 18 years and above in four study locations in Gabasawa Local Government Area, Kano State, Nigeria (97 respondents per location). Participants were selected using multistage probability sampling and interviewed with a structured questionnaire in English or Hausa. Knowledge was assessed with six items (score 0–6), attitudes with four five-point items, and practices through indicators of insecticide-treated net (ITN) ownership, availability and use, environmental management, indoor spraying by an organised malaria-control team, and caregiver-reported seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) uptake among eligible children. Data were analysed descriptively. Mean age was 44.0 years (SD 13.6), and 54.6% were female. The mean knowledge score was 4.10 (SD 1.18) out of 6, and 66.2% knew that not every fever is malaria. About half agreed with each supportive attitude statement (52.0–56.6%), while 11.3% agreed that prevention was not worth the effort. Household ITN ownership was 77.6%, personal availability was 67.8%, and 47.9% reported using a treated net the previous night. Only 15.2% reported indoor spraying by an organised malaria-control team in the previous six months, and 33.5% cleared stagnant water or drains weekly or more often. Among 178 respondents with an eligible child who answered the SMC uptake item (including respondents who did not know the uptake status), 70.2% reported that all eligible children received at least one SMC cycle. Overall, knowledge was moderate and attitudes generally supportive, but reported preventive practices were less consistent. These findings describe self-reported practices in four study locations and suggest the importance of improving net access and use, reinforcing messages about malaria testing, and promoting environmental management.},
                  keywords = {Malaria, knowledge, attitudes, preventive practices, insecticide-treated nets, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Kano State},
                  month = {November}
        }