Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Towards Malaria Elimination in Botswana: A Case Study of Shakawe Village, Okavango District

Background: In Botswana, Okavango Delta and Ngami suffer from endemic malaria due to persistent swamps that provide the breeding sites for the vector. The Government of Botswana prioritize endemic regions, as a model to foster malaria elimination. This study was carried out in Shakawe village in Okavango District, Botswana, to establish knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), towards malaria prevention. The results of this study will help inform the government to eliminate malaria in Botswana.
Materials & Methods: Purposive mixed-methods cross-sectional study was carried out on 113 subjects (63 survey and 50 focused group discussions) aged ≥ 18 years in the endemic village of Shakawe for three days. Frequencies, table, graph and descriptive were used to communicate the findings of this study.
Results: Respondents understood that malaria was transmitted through a mosquito bite (80.1%) and threatened life (96%). We found that 75% of respondents owned mosquito nets, but 33% do not use them because they associated them with breathing difficulties. We also found that 60% of men in Shakawe do not wear long-sleeved clothing to protect themselves from mosquito bites as a sign of strength.
Conclusions: Knowledge of malaria was found to be indirectly proportional to prevention and control practices in Shakawe Village, Botswana. Misconceptions and misperceptions surrounding effective malaria prevention measures must be corrected to foster efforts by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to achieve a goal of zero malaria cases in Botswana by 2023.

Key words: Elimination, attitudes, practices, Shakawe, Okavango District, Botswana.