Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40033294›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Knowledge, perception and preventive practices of Lassa fever among mothers of under-five children in an endemic community in Edo State, Nigeria.

Sulymon A Saka, Dele O Ojo, Nneoma M Mezu, Christian O Uzuegbu, Osazuwa Ighodaro, Oluchi O Illoh, Obiajulum N Emekolom, Offiong A Akpa, Ezinne A Obiora, Amara P Muogbo

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Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Sulymon A SakaIrrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. sakasulymon@gmail.com.
Dele O OjoUniversity Hospitals Plymouth Trust, NHS Trust, Plymouth, England.
Nneoma M MezuFederal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria.
Christian O UzuegbuFederal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
Osazuwa IghodaroBasildon University Hospital, Essex, England.
Oluchi O IllohFederal Road Safety Corps Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
Obiajulum N EmekolomCentral Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Offiong A AkpaAdiza Hospital, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria.
Ezinne A ObioraChukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Amara P MuogboChukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease endemic to West Africa, particularly Nigeria. Despite efforts to control its spread, gaps in knowledge and preventive behaviours remain, particularly among mothers of young children. This study assessed the knowledge, perception, and preventive practices regarding Lassa fever among mothers of under-five children in Esan Central Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria.

methodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 130 mothers with children under five using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Participants were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 30, employing descriptive and inferential statistics to assess the associations between sociodemographic factors, knowledge, and preventive practices.

resultsAll participants (100%) had heard of Lassa fever, with health workers being the most common source of information (55.4%). Most mothers (72%) demonstrated good knowledge of Lassa fever symptoms, where as 67% reported good preventive practices, such as handwashing (71.5%) and maintaining proper drainage systems (70.8%). Ethnicity and education were significantly associated with knowledge of Lassa fever (p < 0.001), while marital status, ethnicity and parity were significantly associated with preventive practices (p < 0.05).

conclusionThis study revealed high awareness and knowledge of Lassa fever among mothers, yet preventive practices were suboptimal. Public health interventions should focus on improving preventive behaviours through targeted health education, particularly in underserved communities, to reduce the disease burden in endemic regions.

Indexed as

Endemic DiseasesHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeLassa FeverMothersAdultChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansInfantMaleMiddle AgedNigeriaSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultEdo stateKnowledgeLassa feverMothersNigeriaPreventive practicesUnder-five children

Identifiers

PMID40033294
PMCPMC11874641

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.