Evaluation of Knowledge and Attitude of Secondary School Teachers Towards Malaria Prevention in Kano State, North West Nigeria

Malaria continues to represent a significant disease burden in Nigeria, with the North West geopolitical zone recording some of the highest transmission rates in the country. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices of secondary school teachers regarding malaria in Kano State. A structured questionnaire was administered to 300 teachers selected through stratified random sampling from 30 public secondary schools across three local government areas in Kano metropolis. The instrument assessed awareness of malaria transmission, recognition of symptoms, use of insecticide-treated nets, and adherence to chemoprophylaxis. Results indicated that while 78 percent of respondents correctly identified mosquitoes as vectors of malaria, only 43 percent consistently used insecticide-treated bed nets, and fewer than 30 percent had received malaria chemoprophylaxis within the past year. Misconceptions about the role of cold weather and dirty water as direct causative agents were prevalent among over 35 percent of participants. Attitude scores were generally positive, but practical preventive behavior was inconsistent with knowledge levels. Socioeconomic status and educational exposure to health topics were identified as significant predictors of appropriate preventive behavior. The findings highlight the gap between malaria awareness and practice and suggest the need for targeted pharmacist-facilitated community education in schools. Incorporating malaria prevention modules into teacher training programs is also recommended. Keywords: malaria prevention, Kano State, secondary school teachers, insecticide-treated nets, health knowledge