A national knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey was conducted in March-April 1992 to examine malaria illness and the people's response to illness and malaria prevention. Fifty-one households in each of 30 randomly selected communities were sampled and information was recorded from 1,531 households and 7,025 individuals. The population is characterized by low income (average household and per capita income were US $490 and $122, respectively) and low education levels (among adult women, 45% had no formal education and only 3.9% completed more than 8 years of schooling). Characteristics of the population were similar to those found in the 1987 national census, suggesting that the survey population was representative of the larger population of Malawi. Children under 5 years of age made up 15.8% of the population and had the highest rates of fever illness; these children experienced an estimated 9.7 cases/year of fever illness consistent with malaria. Although adults reported fever less frequently, women of reproductive age experienced an estimated 6.9 episodes of fever annually. The burden of malaria morbidity in this population is extremely high and occurs in all age groups.
PIP: A national knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey was conducted in March-April 1992 to examine malaria illness and the people's response to illness and malaria prevention. 51 households in each of 30 randomly selected communities were sampled and information was recorded from 1531 households and 7025 individuals. The average annual income per household was US $490 and the average per capita income was $122. Female-headed households are most commonly in the "very low" income grouping. Among adult women, 45% had no formal education and only 3.9% had completed more than 8 years of schooling. 23% of male households and 58% of female households reported no normal education. Children under 5 years of age made up 15.8% of the population and had the highest rates of fever illness. Seasonally adjusted estimates of fever episodes by age group and gender for adults showed that these children experienced the highest reported rates: an estimated 9.7 cases/year of fever illness consistent with malaria. Infants and children under 5 years of age had the highest reported rates of fever (45.6% and 49.0%, respectively). Although adults reported fever less frequently, women of reproductive age experienced an estimated 6.9 episodes of fever annually. Reported malaria-like fever in the previous 14 days was recorded for each household member; overall, 33% of the population reported fever in this interval. Data from the National Health Information System indicate that in 1989 approximately 10% of the more than 3.7 million total outpatient cases of malaria for the year were reported in the mid-April to mid-May time interval. The burden of malaria morbidity in this population is extremely high and occurs in all age groups.