Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) on Malaria Preventive Measures among Women aged 15-49 in Dushanbe,

Background: There is no vaccine, affective and affordable medicine for chemoprophylaxis against malaria disease. The disease can effectively be prevented using the existing available preventive interventions, but low level of knowledge, incorrect beliefs and wrong attitude on malaria has created the challenges, making it difficult for prevention and control. The Republic of Tajikistan is in the malaria pre-elimination stage. In this regard community based strategies, preventive interventions and protection from malaria play crucial role for malaria control in the republic. Objective: The general objective of the study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of women aged 15-49 towards malaria preventive measures living in Dushanbe city in order to generate information that could be essential support for malaria control program in the Republic of Tajikistan. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during November 2013 and April 2014 in Dushanbe city, Tajikistan. A questionnaire to investigate knowledge about on malaria transmission, attitude and practice towards preventive measures was applied to women in reproductive age group. Associations and adjusted effects of personal variables on KAP were analyzed by estimating odds ratios with confidence intervals and p-values using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact tests and (Backward Likelihood Ratio) binary logistic regression methods. Results: Women’s knowledge was poor towards malaria. The result of the study revealed that 32.3% of women generally used preventive measures, only 10.6% of the respondents used mosquito nets during the summer time. Personal measure used by urban women (21.7%) to prevent mosquito bites was mesh on door and windows. Generally, despite having a poor knowledge on malaria, women could recognize the cause of malaria, diagnostic features of the symptoms and signs of malaria, and common approachs for malaria protective measures. Conclusion: This study suggested that more attention should be given towards training and educational programs that focus on behavior considering the poor knowledge, negative attitude and poor practice towards malaria preventive measures. The majority of knowledge distribution revealed that, women had poor level due to lack of knowledge, had poor and limited level of education.