Knowledge and Hygiene Practice among Traders towards Eradication of Lassa fever in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria (Published)
The study was designed to investigate the knowledge and hygiene practice among the traders in Lapai local government of Niger State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Instrument for the study was structured questionnaire developed to carry out the investigation on knowledge and hygiene practice of the traders towards eradication of the virus. The population of the study comprised 250 respondents (traders) sampled from all the daily markets and shops in the Lapai local government. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, simple percentage and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). It was established that 52.8% of traders had good knowledge of Lassa fever; however, findings revealed that hygienic practice and behaviours was negative among 71.6% of traders. Education level was found to be the only socio-economic factor associated with hygienic practice among traders towards eradication of Lassa fever (F = 28.701; p < 0.05). Recommendations were made amongst others that traders should be educated on the risk of exposure to rats inducing Lassa fever. Good personal hygiene must be maintained, all the fruits seller must keep all their fruits from the reach of the rat, same vain to all the people selling drinks in Can. Garri and other food items must be well protected with rodent proof and keep away from the reach of rats. Moreover, all hands must be on deck for the eradication of rats from the community.
Keywords: Knowledge, Traders, hygiene practice, lassafever, multimammate rat