Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract ELIC202545 (Oral 126) | Published: 14 Aug 2025
Sulymon Ayobami Saka1,2,&, Dele Oluwole Ojo3, Nneoma Mirabel Mezu4, Christian Onyeka Uzuegbu5, Osazuwa Ighodaro6,2, Oluchi Ogechukwu Illoh7, Obiajulum Nwakaego Emekolom8, Ezinne Amanda Obiora9, Amara Precious Muogbo9
1Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State Nigeria, 2Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria, 3University Hospitals Plymouth Trust, NHS Trust, Plymouth England, 4Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria, 5Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria, 6Basildon University Hospital, Essex, England, 7Federal Road Safety Corps Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, 8Central Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, 9Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria
&Corresponding author: Sulymon Saka, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. Email: sakasulymon@gmail.com
Received: 22 Apr 2025, Accepted: 09 Jul 2025, Published: 14 Aug 2025
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Lassa fever, knowledge, preventive practices, mothers, under-five children
©Sulymon Ayobami Saka et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Sulymon Ayobami Saka et al., Knowledge, perception, and preventive practices of Lassa fever among mothers of under-five children in an endemic community in Edo State, Nigeria. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(ConfProc5):00126. https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph-confpro5-00126
Lassa fever remains a public health priority in Nigeria, with endemic hotspots like Edo State experiencing recurrent outbreaks. Mothers of under-five children are key targets for prevention efforts due to their caregiving role. While awareness campaigns have increased knowledge, their effect on preventive behaviour remains uncertain.
A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 130 mothers of under-five children in Esan Central LGA, Edo State, using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected via structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and analysed using SPSS v30. Associations between sociodemographic factors and both knowledge and practice were explored using chi-square and logistic regression.
Although 100% of mothers were aware of Lassa fever, with health workers being the source of information (55.4%). 72% of mothers had good knowledge of Lassa symptoms, only 67% practiced adequate prevention such as handwashing (71.5%) and maintaining proper drainage systems (70.8%). Education and ethnicity significantly influenced knowledge (p < 0.001), while marital status, ethnicity, and parity were significantly associated with preventive practices (p<0.05). Key gaps identified included improper food storage and limited rodent control practices.
Bridging the knowledge-practice gap requires translating information into sustainable behaviour change. The disconnect between knowledge and action underscores a need for tailored, behaviour-centred interventions. Public health programs should go beyond awareness campaigns to include community-based demonstrations, culturally contextual messages, and women-centred empowerment strategies. Health systems must also integrate Lassa fever education into routine maternal and child health services.
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