Perceptions and Treatment-Seeking Behaviours of Malaria in Chuchuliga, Upper East Region of Ghana

Understanding the perceptions people in a particular society have about malaria is a valuable socio-cultural factor necessary for its control. Studies however done in Upper East Region about the socio-cultural issues of malaria are limited. A cross sectional study was conducted in Chuchuliga, an irrigation community in the Builsa District of the Upper East Region, to find out the perceptions people have about malaria, and their treatment- seeking behaviours. The simple random sampling technique was used to draw 53 households. Descriptive statistics were employed for the quantitative data analysis, while the qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis from a focus group discussion and interviews. The study finds that while people in Chuchuliga have adequate knowledge on the causes and symptoms of malaria, they do not know how the disease is transmitted. Their treatment strategies and attitudes towards the disease are also poor; as they indulge in practices like taking left-over drugs and indiscriminate drinking of concoctions prepared from plants. Men in Chuchuliga are the vulnerable group to malaria because of such socio-cultural factors as funeral celebrations, farming practices and alcoholism. Sensitisation on malaria and alcoholism is therefore necessary for effective control of malaria in Chuchuliga.