ArticleBMC public health2025
Socioeconomic and educational influences on malaria prevention and treatment behaviours in rural Nigeria.
Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Effect of cumulative exposure to media channels for malaria messages on knowledge of malaria prevention among women (15-49 years) in Uganda.Malaria journal · 2026Article
- Understanding barriers to effective malaria diagnosis and treatment: A mixed-methods study in Uganda, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Prevalence, Associated Risk Factors, and the Impact of Malaria on Anemia in Pregnant Women Attending ANC in North Gondar Zone, Northern Ethiopia.BioMed research international · 2026Article
- Prevalence of malaria and diagnostic performance of malaria rapid diagnostic tests compared to microscopy among febrile patients at Pawe General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Serological evidence of continued exposure toFrontiers in microbiology · 2025Article
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7 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundMalaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in rural Nigeria, where socioeconomic, educational, and informational factors critically influence prevention and treatment behaviours.
methodsThis study is a cross-sectional analysis of the 2021 Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) to investigate the relationships between household income, education, media exposure, and key malaria control outcomes among rural populations. Three complementary analyses were conducted: household-level associations between income and insecticide-treated net (ITN) ownership and use (n = 5,021 households); individual-level associations of education with malaria prevention awareness and ITN use among women aged 15-49 years (n = 9,546); and the influence of media exposure on malaria treatment-seeking behaviour (n = 893).
resultsResults indicated near-universal ITN ownership across income groups, demonstrating equitable distribution (97.7%), but usage was significantly lower (70.3%). However, ITN use varied inversely with income, with low-income households having 3.6 times higher odds of ITN use (95% CI: 3.07-4.29). Among women, education was a strong predictor of malaria prevention awareness, with higher education levels associated with increased knowledge (p < 0.001). Paradoxically, ITN use decreased as education increased, suggesting that behavioural or contextual factors modulate preventive practice despite greater awareness. Media exposure did not significantly influence the type of healthcare service accessed for malaria treatment, indicating that information access alone may not determine treatment-seeking patterns.
conclusionsThese findings highlight complex relationships between social determinants and malaria control behaviours. While ITN distribution efforts have achieved broad coverage, targeted behavioural interventions may be needed to improve ITN utilisation, particularly among higher-income groups who may underestimate their risk. Education is associated with increased awareness, but this does not necessarily lead to net use, highlighting the need for strategies that address barriers beyond knowledge. The limited impact of media exposure on treatment choices calls for comprehensive approaches that go beyond simply disseminating information, addressing structural and cultural factors in healthcare utilisation. Policymakers, including the Nigerian Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), should design interventions that combine education, community engagement, and practical support to ensure sustained behaviour change. This study provides information to help optimise malaria control strategies and reduce the malaria burden in rural Nigeria by addressing both knowledge gaps and real-world barriers to prevention and treatment.
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