Study to Express the Perception of Parents/Caregivers on the SMC Intervention in Sokoto Nigeria.

Abstract

Malaria is a protozoan infection of the red blood cells, transmitted to humans via the bite of a female anopheles’ mosquito of Plasmodium species. A malaria control effort during the last decades to prevent and eliminate malaria from Africa has remained a major problem throughout the tropics. At the end of the 20th century, childhood mortality caused by malaria was on the increase. The aim of the study was to express the perception of parents/caregivers on the SMC intervention in Sokoto Nigeria. Parents/caregivers placed a high priority on the health of their children and have pledged to support the SMC intervention and any other program in the community aimed at improving the health of their children. However, negative attitudes and lack of trust by few parents have proven the little interest they have in the intervention. The intensive health education on the SMC intervention with a focus on the importance of the drug, the likely side effects and the need for parents to allow their children to receive the drug could further improve acceptability and the smooth implementation of the program by changing the mindset of some caregivers in other areas who are relatively low.