Health education as a tool for improving the knowledge of Malaria and long lasting insecticide treated nets among people living with HIV/AIDS in Bassa local government area of Plateau state, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria is a mosquito borne disease transmitted by female anopheles mosquito; it is life-threatening, preventable and treatable. Approximately 40 percent of the world’s population is at risk of malaria. Malaria and HIV/AIDS are two of the most common infections in sub Sahara Africa, an increased prevalence of malaria and increased parasite density in HIV- infected individuals could lead to increased malaria transmission affecting both HIV- positive and – negative individuals. To assess the knowledge of malaria and Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITNs) among People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). A quasi experimental study conducted among PLHIV in Plateau State, Nigeria. EPI info statistical software version 3.5.4 was used for data analysis and 95% confidence interval was used in this study with a P ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. The mean age of the respondents was 33.9 + 11.5 years. The level of knowledge on malaria improved significantly after the training (P<0.001). Majority (98.8%) of the respondents had good knowledge of LLITNs after the intervention (P < 0.001).This study has demonstrated the effectiveness of health education as veritable tool for improving the knowledge of malaria and LLITNs