ABSTRACT
This study was undertaken to find out examine the
impact of Lassa fever awareness through health education programs in Ekpoma
community Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. Questionnaires were designed to elicit
information which served as the basis for empirical, assessment of the various
research questions of the study. The
questionnaires were administered to 150 persons from four (4) communities in
Ekpoma Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. A simple percentage was
used for the analysis of the data supplied in the questionnaire. The responses to the items in the
questionnaire were coded and analyzed in tables. The study found out that
although the level of awareness on Lassa fever is above average, it is only
superficial. As many of the respondents have only heard the name and know
nearly nothing else about the disease. It was discovered that the respondents
are unaware of the root cause of Lassa fever or rats as the major reservoir of
the virus. It was also found that most people are unaware of its means of
transmission. The study also revealed that although health workers are aware of
their susceptibility to infection, there is no impingement on the delivery of
their duty as savers of lives. It was discovered that there were no special
facilities, in the hospitals visited, set aside for patients with Lassa fever:
Based on the findings the following recommendations, among others, were given;
Health workers should strictly adhere to regular use of hand gloves in
attending to patients. Regular disinfection of all patients environment before
admission and after discharge should be given utmost priority. There should be,
where possible, separate facilities for isolation of patients with suspected
cases of Lassa fever.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title Page- -- - - - - - i
Certification- - - - - - - iii
Dedication- - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgement- - - - - - v
Abstract-- - - - - - - viii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study- - - - - 1
Statement of problem- - - - - - 3
Purpose of the Study- - - - - - 4
Research Questions- - - - - - 4
Scope of the Study- - - - - - 5
Significance of the Study - - - - - 6
Limitation of the Study - - - - 6
Definition of Terms- - - - - - 6
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Lassa fever-- - - 8
2018
research/situation report- - - - - - - 11
Signs and
symptoms of Lassa fever - - 16
Transmission- - - - - - 20
Risk of exposure - - - - - 23
Diagnosis - - -
- - - - - - - 25
Prevention/treatment- - - 27
Summary of
Literature Review- - - 30
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
Research Design - - - - - - 31
Population of the study- - - - - 31
Sample and Sampling
Technique- - - - 32
Research Instrument- - - - - - 33
Validity - - - - - - - 33
Reliability- - - - - - 34
Method of Data Collection - - - - - 34
Method of Data analysis - - - - - 34
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Discussion of Result - - - - - 35
CHAPTER FIVE:
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary- - - - - - - - 46
Conclusion- - - - - - - - 47
Recommendations - - - - - - 48
REFERENCES- - - - - - - 49
Appendix- - - - - - - - 51
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Lassa fever
or Lassa hemorrhagic fever (LHF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by
the Lassa virus and first described in 1969 in the town of Lassa, in Borno
State Nigeria. The Lassa fever is a member of the arena-viridiae virus family.
Similar to Ebola, clinical cases of the disease had been known for over a
decade but had not been connected with a viral pathogen. The infection is
endemic in West African countries, and causes 300,000–500,000 cases annually,
with approximately 5,000 deaths. Outbreaks of the disease have been observed in
Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and the Central African Republic, but
it is believed that human infections also exist in Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Mali, and Senegal. The primary animal host of the Lassa virus is the
Natal Multimammate Mouse (Mastomysnatalensis), an animal indigenous to most of
Sub-Saharan Africa. The virus is probably transmitted by contact with the feces
or urine of animals accessing grain stores in residences. (Garrett, Laurie,
2001). Given its high rate of incidence, Lassa fever has become a major problem
in the African region. Nadezhda E. Yun and David H. Walker (2011) carried out a
research on the origin on the Lassa fever. Dr. Ross Donaldson accounts his
experience with Lassa fever in his book, The Lassa Ward.
Lassa virus is
zoonotic (transmitted from animals), in that it spreads to man from rodents,
specifically multi-mammate rats (Mastomysnatalensis). This is probably the most
common rodent in equatorial Africa, ubiquitous in human households and eaten as
a delicacy in some areas. In these rats, infection is in a persistent
asymptomatic state. The virus is shed in their excreta (urine and feces), which
can be aerosolized. In fatal cases, Lassa fever is characterized by impaired or
delayed cellular immunity leading tofulminant viremia. (R.T.D. Emond, Barbara Bannister, G. Lloyd, T. J. Southee
and E. T. W. Bowen, 2000).
Infection in
humans typically occurs by exposure to animal excrement through the respiratory
or gastrointestinal tracts. Inhalation of tiny particles of infective material
(aerosol) is believed to be the most significant means of exposure. It is
possible to acquire the infection through broken skin or mucous membranes that
are directly exposed to infective material. Transmission from person to person
has also been established, presenting a disease risk for healthcare workers.
Frequency of transmission via sexual contact has not been established.
Statement of the
Problem
Despite
much global effort, advances in research, and updated clinical management
guidelines, Lassa fever continues to be a cause of mortality and morbidity in
humans worldwide. In West Africa, it accounts for more than 300, 000-500, 000
with about 5000 deaths (United States Department of Medicine, 2008) and results
in significant economic losses. (Barrington,Gay&Evermann, 2002. Gunn, Naylor, & House, 2009).
With the risk of death in one out of
every ten cases, frequency of 400,000 cases per year and an estimated rate of
5,000 deaths per year, Lassa fever is one of the most dangerous disease
conditions in Nigeria. Based on the aforementioned statistics, this research
work intends to examine the impact of Lassa fever awareness through health
education programs in Ekpoma Community Esan West Local Government Area of Edo
State.
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this research is to
examine the impact of Lassa fever awareness through health education programs
in Ekpoma community Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. Specifically
the study aims to achieve the following;
·
Examine
the place of health education programs in creating awareness on Lassa fever.
·
To
outline the various causes of Lassa fever diseases.
·
To
suggest ways to prevent or control Lassa fever.
Research Questions
The following research questions are raised to guide this
study;
·
What
are the causes and means of transmission of Lassa fever?
·
Are
health workers susceptible to Lassa fever infection through treatment of
patients?
·
What
are the infection prevention and control (IPC) measures of Lassa fever?
·
How
does health education program help in the prevention and control of Lassa
fever?
Significance of the
Study
The importance
of this study cannot be overemphasized.
·
The
study would be of great help to the ministry of health and the government whose
objectives of primary health care are preventive health and gradual eradication
of communicable diseases.
·
it
will help in sensitizing major stakeholders in secondary schools and other
institutions of learning, on the importance of health education programs
·
Specifically
Lassa fever It will
·
It
will help the teachers to prevent the spread of this communicable disease in
schools
·
It
will create awareness to the general public on the causes of Lassa fever in our
society
·
It
will help the teachers to care about the health of the students and to know how
to treat the infected pupil.
·
It
will help in continuous training of teachers on disease control.
Scope of the Study
This study is set out to investigate
the impact of Lassa fever awareness through health education programs in Ekpoma
community. Therefore, the study is restricted to residents of Ekpoma community
Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Operational Definition
of Terms
The following terms were used in this
research work many have different meaning to many people in different fields
but for the purpose of this study. The meanings of these terms are as follows.
Communicable diseases: They are the diseases which are
passed from one person to another through water, air, dust etc.
Non-communicable
diseases: These are
diseases that cannot be spread through personal contact, water, dust, air, etc.
Immunity: This is the ability or power
possessed by children to resist infection.
WHO: World Health Organization.
Threat: An expression of an intention to
inflict pain, injury, evil, or punishment. An impending danger or harm, one
that is regarded as a possible danger a menace.
Mortality: Mortality is the state of being
mortal, or susceptible to death; the opposite of immortality
Morbidity: Departure from a state of physical
or psychological well-being, resulting from disease, illness, injury, or
sickness, especially where the affected individual is aware of his or her
condition.
Disease: A disease is an abnormal condition affecting
the body of an organism.
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