*Corresponding Authors’ Contact Detail: E-mail Addresses ✉: omolade.okwa@lasu.edu.ng; omoladeokwa@gmail.com; Phone Number ☎: Tel: +2349098617307; 08028313362

Accepted May 13, 2022

Malaria contributes to school absenteeism and low academic performance. Gaps remain in the perception and control of the disease among students. Structured questionnaires were administered to 125 randomly selected students across 6 faculties in Lagos State University of which 90% were 16-25 years. Among the participants, 66% perceived malaria as a deadly disease and 70% were aware of the role of mosquitoes in the transmission. On the contrary, 34% disagreed that malaria is a deadly disease while 30% had misconceptions about the cause. 73% of mostly science students were familiar with the symptoms of malaria. 47% reported missed lectures due to malaria while 59% claimed they had malaria after exams. 74% indicated they had malaria during exams while 46% reported that they had been hospitalized due to malaria. In control practices, 58% reported that they slept under mosquito nets, 49% used mosquito repellants while 23 % used chemoprophylaxis. Self-medication was 65% while 59% reported ever visiting a health facility for malaria. The right perception of malaria was not translated to the right practices. Intensified health education on environmental management, use of bed nets, malaria chemoprophylaxis, early reporting of symptoms and dangers of self-medication should be incorporated into students’ orientation programs.

Keywords: Malaria, Mosquitoes, Perception, Practices, Self-medication, Students.

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