Relationship Between Knowledge and Practices of Malaria Prevention Strategies Among Senior Secondary School Students in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria

Osinachi Stanley Ezealaji; Rita Glory Osuji; Hamisu Mamman; Chima Wisdom; Olumba; Gladys Chinyere Olumba

doi:10.56201/ijmepr.v10.no3.2026.pg17.26

📄 Download Paper

Relationship Between Knowledge and Practices of Malaria Prevention Strategies Among Senior Secondary School Students in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria

Osinachi Stanley Ezealaji, Rita Glory Osuji, Hamisu Mamman, Chima Wisdom, Olumba, Gladys Chinyere Olumba, .

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between knowledge and practices of malaria prevention strategies among senior secondary school students in the Federal Capital Territory , Abuja, Nigeria. A descriptive correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised senior secondary school students in selected public secondary schools in FCT Abuja, from which a sample of 400 students was drawn using appropriate sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire titled Knowledge and Practice of Malaria Prevention Strategies Questionnaire was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by experts and tested for reliability prior to administration. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) to answer the research question and Pearson Product Moment Correlation to test the null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that students possessed relatively good knowledge of malaria prevention strategies (Mean = 3.29, SD = 0.353) and moderate level of practice (Mean = 3.07, SD = 0.505). A statistically significant moderate positive relationship was found between knowledge and practice (r = 0.507, df = 398, p < 0.05). The null hypothesis stating that there is no significant relationship between knowledge and practice of malaria prevention strategies was therefore rejected. The study concluded that improved knowledge significantly enhances malaria prevention practices among students. It was recommended that school-based malaria education programmes be strengthened to ensure sustained translation of knowledge into effective preventive behaviours.

Keywords

MalariaKnowledgePracticePrevention StrategiesSecondary School StudentsFCT Abuja. 1

References

Adewale, J. O., & Okeke, T. A. (2023). Effects of malaria on school performance among adolescents in Abuja. Journal of Adolescent Health Research, 8(2), 45–57. Adedayo, O., & Abiola, O. (2022). Assessment of malaria knowledge and prevention practices among adolescents in Edo State, Nigeria. African Journal of Public Health, 16(3), 121– 130. Aluh, D. O., Anyachebelu, O. C., & Onuorah, C. E. (2018). Knowledge and practice of malaria prevention and management among non-medical students of a Nigerian university. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 5(10), 4613–4617. Amoran, O. E. (2013). Impact of health education intervention on malaria prevention practices among nursing mothers in rural communities in Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Journal, 54(2), 115–122. Dawson, P., Kalu, M., & Chukwu, P. (2022). Knowledge and health behaviors toward malaria prevention among Nigerian secondary school students. Malaria Journal, 21(1), 112– 121. Ibrahim, S., & Eze, U. (2020). Barriers to insecticide-treated net use among youths in urban Nigeria. Public Health Perspectives, 15(4), 399–408. Midala, I., Oladipo, E., Akinwale, O., & Yusuf, T. (2021). Assessment of the knowledge, attitude and practices of malaria prevention among secondary school students in Lagos State. International Journal of Tropical Diseases, 6(1), 1–8. Musa, A. A., Musa, M. L., & Gidado, S. (2021). Awareness and practice of malaria prevention in Nigeria: A cross-sectional student study. African Journal of Infectious Diseases, 15(3), 95–104. Ndoma, E., Ekpenyong, J., & Obogo, U. (2025). Knowledge of malaria prevention, prevalence and utilization of insecticide-treated nets among tertiary institution students in Cross River State, Nigeria. Journal of Public Health Research and Practice, 14(2), 45–56. Ojo, O., & Adebayo, A. (2022). Malaria knowledge and insecticide-treated net utilization among adolescents in FCT Abuja. Nigerian Journal of Public Health, 13(5), 78–87. Singh, R., Musa, J., Singh, S., & Ebere, U. V. (2014). Knowledge, attitude and practices on malaria prevention in rural communities. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 3(3), 200–204. Udonwa, N. E., Gyuse, A. N., & Etokidem, A. J. (2010). Malaria: Knowledge and prevention practices among school adolescents in a coastal community in Calabar, Nigeria. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 2(1), 1–5. Wakai, A., Bello, M., Ogunleye, T., & Adeyemi, S. (2025). Knowledge, practices, and perceptions towards malaria prevention and control among residents of Ogun State, Nigeria. Frontiers in Tropical Diseases, 6, 1686197. World Health Organization. (2023). World malaria report 2023. Geneva: WHO. National Malaria Elimination Programme . (2024). Annual malaria report Nigeria. Federal Ministry of Health.

Relationship Between Knowledge and Practices of Malaria Prevention Strategies Among Senior Secondary School Students in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL EVALUATION AND PHYSICAL REPORT