KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS, AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF LASSA FEVER AMONG RESIDENTS OF ESAN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Lassa fever, awareness, knowledge, risk assessmentAbstract
Background: Lassa fever is endemic in Esan West Local Government Area (LGA), Edo State, Nigeria, yet community-level data on awareness, knowledge, and behavioural risk remain scarce. This study assessed the awareness, knowledge, and risk level of Lassa fever among residents of Esan West LGA and identified their sociodemographic determinants.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 residents selected across all 10 wards of Esan West LGA between July and December 2013. Multi-stage sampling was employed. Knowledge was assessed using a 28-item scale and graded as good (≥75%), fair (50–74%), or poor (<50%). Risk level was assessed using a 20-item scale and graded as high (>75%), moderate (50–74%), or low (<50%). Chi-square test was used to evaluate associations between outcomes and sociodemographic characteristics at a significance level of 0.05. SPSS version 25 was used to analyse all data.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 43.6 ± 21.6 years. Awareness of Lassa fever was recorded in 44.0% of respondents, with the ISTH Outreach Team and electronic media as the leading information sources. Only 7.0% had good knowledge, while 33.7% had poor knowledge. Educational level was the sole significant predictor of both awareness (χ² = 11.14, p = 0.011) and knowledge (χ² = 19.8, p = 0.011). High behavioural risk was identified in 37.0% of respondents. Female gender, employment in skilled and unskilled occupations, community of residence, and longer duration of stay were significant determinants of high risk (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Awareness and good knowledge of Lassa fever were low among residents of Esan West LGA. We recommend a shift from passive information delivery to peer-driven, structural, and incentivised interventions that embed health education into daily survival and cultural routines.
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