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. 2023 Aug 19;23(1):1585.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16507-9.

Determination of different social groups' level of knowledge about malaria in a multicultural Amazonian cross-border context

Mélanie Gaillet  1   2 , Lise Musset  3 , Claire Cropet  4 , Félix Djossou  5   6 , Adeline Mallard  3 , Guillaume Odonne  7 , Damien Davy  7 , Maylis Douine  5   4 , Loic Epelboin  5   6 , Yassamine Lazrek  3 , Luana Mathieu  3 , Mathieu Nacher  4 , Emilie Mosnier  8   9   10
Affiliations

Determination of different social groups' level of knowledge about malaria in a multicultural Amazonian cross-border context

Mélanie Gaillet et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: A steady decline in the number of cases of malaria was observed in the 2000s in French Guiana. This enabled regional health policies to shift their public health goal from control to elimination. To include inhabitants in this strategy, the main objective of this study was to describe knowledge about malaria, and related attitudes and practices in persons living in the French Guiana border.

Methods: We conducted a survey in people over 15 years old living in the twelve neighbourhoods of Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock with the highest malaria incidence. It comprised a 147-item questionnaire which collected data on socio-demographic characteristics and included a Knowledge Attitude and Practices survey on malaria. Knowledge-related data were studied using exploratory statistical methods to derive summary variables. A binary variable assessing level of knowledge was proposed and then assessed using exploratory approaches.

Results: The mean age of the 844 participants was 37.2 years [15.8], the male/female sex ratio was 0.8. In terms of nationality, 485 (57.5%) participants were Brazilian and 352 (41.7%) French. One third (305, 36.1%) spoke Brazilian Portuguese as their native language, 295 (34.9%) the Amerindian language Palikur, 36 (4.3%) French. The symptoms of malaria and prevention means were poorly known by 213 (25.2%) and 378 (44.8%) respondents, respectively. A quarter (206, 24.4%) did not know that malaria can be fatal. Overall, 251 people (29.7%) had an overall poor level of knowledge about malaria. Being under 25 years old, living in a native Amerindian neighbourhood, having an Amerindian mother tongue language, having risk behaviours related to gold mining were significantly associated with a poor level of knowledge.

Conclusions: This study is the first to describe the poor level of knowledge about malaria in populations living in the malaria endemic border area along the Oyapock river in French Guiana. Results will allow to reinforce, to diversify and to culturally adapt prevention messages and health promotion to increase their effectiveness with a view to quickly reaching the goal of malaria elimination through empowerment.

Keywords: Amazonia; Attitudes and practices survey; Border; French Guiana; Knowledge; Malaria; Malaria elimination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The neighbourhoods of Saint Georges de l’Oyapock municipality targeted by the KAP study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Exploratory analysis of multiple-choice questions to assess inhabitant’s knowledge of malaria, A) symptoms and B) prevention means. Interpretation of a spherical principal component analysis (A): when two variables are close to each other they are strongly correlated. When two variables are separated from the centre by a 90 degrees angle then they are almost independent. When two variables are diametrically opposed, then they are correlated a priori negatively. Interpretation of a flat principal component analysis (B): when two points are close to the edge of the circle and are close to each other, then the two underlying variables are also correlated. When there are two points close to the circle and diametrically opposed, then the underlying variables are negatively correlated. When two points are close to the circle and at right angles to the origin, then the underlying variables are uncorrelated. As soon as points are removed from the circumference of the circle, we can no longer interpret the results of a principal component analysis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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