Table 3 Participants' practices in malaria treatment-seeking behaviour and prevention methods
| population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Variables |
Forest-aboriginal (n = 100) n (%) |
Rural (n = 123) n (%) | χ2 significance |
| Treatment-seeking behaviour | |||
| Use herbal remedies as first line activity | 28 (28.0) | 19 (15.4) | p < 0.05 |
| Witchcraft as a first line activity | 13 (13.0) | 0 (0.0) | p < 0.001 |
| Go to clinic as a first line activity (within 24 hrs of fever onset) | 65 (65.0) | 117 (95.1) | p < 0.001 |
| Take anti-malarial/antipyretic medicine | 0 (0.0) | 6 (4.9) | p < 0.05 |
| Malaria prevention methods | |||
| Use of mosquito bed nets | 63 (63.0) | 76 (61.8) | ns |
| Keep the house/surroundings clean | 30 (30.0) | 46 (37.4) | ns |
| Elimination of breeding sites | 0 (0.0) | 8 (6.5) | p < 0.001 |
| Use of insecticide/spraying | 3 (3.0) | 33 (26.8) | p < 0.001 |
| Fumigation by smoke | 7 (7.0) | 28 (22.8) | p < 0.01 |
| Use of anti-malarials | 1 (1.0) | 8 (6.5) | p < 0.05 |
| Use of medicinal plants | 10 (10.0) | 6 (4.9) | ns |
| No knowledge | 21 (21.0) | 23 (18.7) | ns |