AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO ANALIZE THE REACTION AND RESPONDS OF INDIVIDUALS TOWARDS MALARIA IN TERMS OF IT SYMPTONS, EFFECTS, CAUSES, PREVENTION AND CONTROL METHODS. (USING TECHIMAN MUNICIPAL AS CASE STUDY)

INTRODUCTION

Malaria, disease caused by infection with single-celled parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Anopheles mosquitoes transmit these parasites from one person to another in their bites. Malaria is characterized by periodic bouts of severe chills and high fever. Serious cases of malaria can result in death if left untreated. More than a million people die of the disease each year, most of them in Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Malaria was once widespread in North America and other temperate regions. Today, the disease occurs mostly in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Public health officials had hoped to wipe out malaria during the 20th century. However, malaria parasites have developed defenses against many antimalarial drugs.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Malaria remains a global health problem, and public health efforts today focus on controlling it. In addition, a worldwide effort is under way to develop a vaccine that protects people against the disease. In the meantime, research by the WHO has found that sleeping under bed nets treated with insecticide can greatly reduce deaths from malaria, especially among children.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Obviously diseases like HIV Aids, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B seems to be some of the most dangerous diseases in the world that most people fear most, and this have shifted the attention of many from malaria ignoring the fact that more than a million people die from the disease each year especially in Africa. Many a time’s people result to self-medication rather than visiting the hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment but the disease if left untreated can result to death. Moreover people wait to be attacked by the disease before they look for a cure rather than using preventive methods such as keeping the environment clean to prevent the spread of the disease.

This study however seeks to inquire statistically the behavior of individuals towards malaria in the municipality.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the project include:

1.      To know the attitude of individuals towards malaria.

2.      To sensitize the public on the seriousness and death threat it poses if the disease is left untreated.

3.      To analyze statistically whether the likelihood depend on gender or age group.

4.      To inquire statistically whether the likelihood depend on illiteracy rate.  

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Collection of data, analysis and some statistical instrument will be used in the study. The research will be carried out in some selected areas and hospitals in the Techiman municipality. The data that will be used for this research will be collected by the researcher and the main source will be primary and secondary data. A self-constructed questionnaire will be used to collect data. Some methodologies like random sampling, snowball method, personal interviews The type of methods that will be carried out in the course of the project include the use of measure of central tendency, vital statistics and any relevant statistical models. The statistical software that will be used in the analysis of the data will be Microsoft Excel, Genstats, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and any other software that will be required.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The research should provide basic information on the attitude of individuals towards malaria, and also create the awareness of people on the dangers attach to the disease if left untreated.

Again it is expected that after the completion of this work, it will serve as a source of reference to potential researchers who either wants to study on the same topic or similar one.