Awareness and perception of malaria and dengue at school and college level in the district of Multan

PLoS One. 2022 Feb 10;17(2):e0260868. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260868. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the awareness and perception of malaria and dengue fever in Multan Punjab, Pakistan while taking into account the important role of government policies and other variables. The goal of this study is to examine the awareness of students in Multan, Pakistan on malaria and dengue. This study is based on a quantitative approach of secondary evidence from scientific journals and questionnaire surveys. It is also based on observational evidence gathered in Multan Punjab Pakistan, in a field study. The survey with school children, teachers and healthcare professionals were both formal and semi-structuralize. Studies have found that malaria and dengue mainly affect children's schooling through their absence, but can also induce brain loss and cognitive disability. In questionnaires, students were seen to have different understanding of the illness, but also to be able to serve as agents of health reform only through teachers. A sample size of 500 respondents has been selected from different colleges of district Multan Punjab, Pakistan. Correlation technique is used for the data analysis. According to our results it is concluded that the students at college level are aware of malaria and dengue diseases, but they are not capable of engaging and serving as agents for health reform. On the basis of results it is recommended that students must teach about epidemics diseases regarding how to handle these diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Awareness*
  • Dengue / epidemiology
  • Dengue / pathology*
  • Dengue / virology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaria / epidemiology
  • Malaria / parasitology
  • Malaria / pathology*
  • Male
  • Pakistan / epidemiology
  • Perception*
  • Schools
  • Students / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Universities
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Study, King Khalid University for funding this work through study groups program under grant number R.G.P. 2/11/42. The authors also thanks to Deanship of Scientific Study at king Saud University for funding this work through study project number no. RSP-2021/99. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.