Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding malaria in the indigenous Guna population of the Madungandí region, Panamá, 2012

Abstract

Introduction: Knowledge, attitudes and practices surveys allow to determine the degree of knowledge on the management of malaria in a given population, as well as the attitudes and practices that contribute or not to its transmission.

Objective: To identify the knowledge, attitudes and practices that favor or not the transmission of malaria in the indigenous Guna population of Madungandí.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by applying a survey to the heads of the families in a sample of 40% of households in three communities with high malaria incidence. Local Guna residents and translators were part of the research team that applied the questionnaires. The statistical analysis was performed in Epi-Info 6.04.

Results: The age range of those surveyed was between 20 and 70 years. All responders indicated that they belonged to and spoke the language of the Guna ethnic group, 64% were male and 30% were illiterate. Half (51%) of the responders declared they had suffered malaria at least once in the last eight years, and 89% accepted that malaria was a health problem. Sixty-three per cent responded that their traditional doctors, “inadule”, cured malaria and 7.0 % practiced the “pipe smoking” and “cocoa burn” rituals to prevent the disease.

Conclusion: Considering the limited knowledge about malaria and its vector, as well as the willingness to collaborate shown by the Guna population, it is essential to initiate educational and participative programs to improve control and prevention activities in the communities aimed at achieving a reduction in malaria incidence in the Madungandí indigenous region.