Background: Malaria is endemic in Ghana, posing serious public health challenge to the
development of Ghana. Currently, it is ranked number one among the causes of admission of
children under five years; likewise the number one cause of death of children under five years in
Ghana. Despite prevention strategies introduced, it maintains its top spot. This study assessed
knowledge of mothers of children under five years in Adentan Municipality regarding malaria,
their prevention methods practiced, challenges and their treatment seeking practices.
Methods: A cross-sectional study assessed malaria related knowledge, prevention, challenges
and treatment seeking practices in Adentan Municipality of Greater Accra Region in Ghana. A
structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered to 363 mothers of children
under five years drawn by systematic sampling to collect information on their socio-demographic
characteristics, malaria knowledge, malaria prevention practices, challenges, and treatment
seeking practices for their under-five.
Results: Majority of respondents had good knowledge of malaria, 87.6% prevented their child
from malaria, the prevention strategies are; use of drugs, repellants, bed nets, insecticide treated
nets (ITNs), insecticide spray, protective clothing, environment cleaning and use of multiple
strategies. ITN was the commonest strategy utilized. Challenges included discomfort, cost,
irritation, skin conditions, allergies, tear and difficulty in tacking ITNs. 74.4% of respondent’s
child had a positive history of fever, 32.8% had been admitted due to fever, 3.8% had history of
unconsciousness, 4% had history of convulsion and 0.3% has lost a child after developing fever,
being unconscious or convulsed. 36.3% tepid sponge their child as first response to fever, 86.2%
took their child to the health facility on persistence of fever. 41.2% took their first action in less
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than 24 hours. There was significant association between mothers’ level of education and
knowledge of malaria, knowledge and prevention of malaria, child’s age and history of fever,
knowledge of malaria and history of fever, knowledge of malaria and history of death.
Conclusion: Health information given to mothers during antenatal visits, visits to the infant and
child clinic and the adoption of the Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) was
responsible for the high knowledge of malaria. The delay in seeking treatment suggests the need
for an emphasis of prompt seeking of care.