Evaluation of Malaria Awareness, Prevalence, and Control Measures in the Southern Punjab Area of Pakistan: Role of Health Promoting Behavior

For many years, malaria has been a persistent worldwide health concern. This study looked at the level of awareness, prevalence, and preventative methods for malaria among Pakistani households in the southern Punjab region. Using a straightforward random sampling technique, a semi-structured questionnaire was used to poll a total of 531 people. SPSS 25.0 was used for the data analysis, and tables, graphs, and charts were used to display the findings. According to the survey, participants had a solid understanding of malaria, its vector, and mosquito breeding grounds. Of those who took part in the research, 32% said they had malaria every year, and 75% said they knew someone who had the illness. Of the participants, 51% preferred environmental management and sanitation (EMS) as an alternative approach to vector control in the municipality, while 19.0% preferred settlement, or erecting buildings away from wetlands. About half of those surveyed think that environmental sanitation bye-laws will force people to clean up their yards, which will remove mosquito breeding grounds. Roughly half of the participants hold the view that the government ought to hire and support sanitary laborers and environmental health inspectors. Health workers in southern Punjab must step up efforts to educate the public about malaria prevention and control in order to successfully alter family attitudes toward this disease's prevention and control. It is essential that the federal and state governments increase the number of Environmental Health Officers and provide them with the necessary training in order to guarantee adherence to environmental cleanliness rules. The potential of larvicides and environmental management and sanitation (EMS) as ways to improve fundamental vector control strategies for mosquito larval control should be investigated by the malaria control authorities in the study region.