Malaria-Associated Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Elobied City, Sudan: A CommunityCentric Investigation
Abstract: Malaria is a major public health issue in Sudan, particularly in endemic areas such as Elobied, North Kordofan State. Malaria prevention and control require a community's knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). This study sought to assess KAP for malaria among residents of Elobied, Sudan. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the community with 638 participants (mean age: 31.8 ± 13.2 years). A standardized predetermined questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices pertaining to malaria. The SPSS statistical tests were used to determine significance (p < 0.05). The findings revealed that malaria is well-known, with the majority of participants accurately recognizing it as a parasitic disease (83.7%), transmitted by mosquito bites (93.3%), and a dangerous but treatable disease (85.7% and 90.6%). Regarding malaria prevention, attitudes were overwhelmingly positive, with 74.6% using mosquito nets and 78.1% wanting to learn more about the disease. In terms of practices, 72.4% were educated about malaria in school, while 69.1% were informed through the media. Nonetheless, significant gaps were found: 60.0% of participants did not use mosquito repellents, and only 25.5% identified blood transfusion as a possible method of transmitting malaria. Although headaches and arthralgia were widely accepted, classic symptoms such as fever and chills were not as well received. Finally, residents of Elobied demonstrated good knowledge and positive attitudes toward malaria, but preventive practices were inconsistent, and they perceived non-vector transmission routes to be less severe. As consequently, it is critical to address these deficiencies through targeted health education initiatives and communityled interventions aimed at improving malaria control strategies.Keywords: Malaria; Awareness; Malaria Prevention; Community Engagement; Sudan