Knowledge attitudes and practice regarding cholera outbreaks in Ilala municipality of Dar-es-salaam.

A cross sectional study was conducted in Ilala municipality in Dar-es-salaam region between 27th May and 25lh June 2004. About 310 respondents were included in this study, 186 (59.9%) were females and 124 (40.1%) were males aged between 18 and 84 years old. The aim of the study was to determine knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding cholera outbreaks in Ilala municipality in Dar-es-Salaam city. Specifically the study intended to measure knowledge of people regarding cholera, attitudes of people regarding cholera and to determine socio cultural practices that influence cholera. The study also intended to determine environmental practices that influence cholera outbreaks in Ilala municipality. Qualitative and quantitative methods of research were employed. Qualitative data included information on knowledge, attitudes and practice about cholera, practices associated with cholera within household settings and management of the physical environment at the household settings. The quantitative data involved 11questions about knowledge of people regarding cholera and eight attitude statements regarding cholera. Information about its transmissibility, signs and symptoms, treatment and control measures were obtained. Other information’s were about available types of water source and quantity, water treatment and hygiene, standard of living and observation of physical environment. This included the number of families in one house, number of people in one house, availability of toilet facilities and number of toilets in one house. The observation of physical environment involved condition of toilet facilities and types of toilets. Presence of toilet lids, bathrooms, solid waste containers and presence of container lids. Others included solid waste disposal methods and access to liquid waste disposal system. Proportion of respondents with good knowledge of cholera in this study is 84.8. The study also revealed that main practices associated with cholera among respondents with high level of knowledge in Ilala by water source were use of piped water 84.3 percent, water from deep wells 88.3 percent and shallow wells 71.4 percent, P = 0.023. The distribution of respondents by low knowledge and water source was piped water 15.7 percent, shallow well 28.6 percent and deep well 11.7 percent. The proportion of respondents by low knowledge and water quantity was; adequacy of water 13.6 percent and inadequacy of water 18.3 percent. About 14.3 percent of respondents with low level of knowledge drink water from wells without boiling while 31.8 percent drink not boiled water from the pipe P = 0.016. Others include unhygienic habits like washing of hands in a common container 21.6 percent P = 0.015. Furthermore the proportion of respondents with positive attitudes towards cholera prevention in this study is 97.4 percent. According to the above findings I conclude that the practice is proved to be lagging behind knowledge and attitudes regarding cholera. Thus cholera is still a problem in Ilala municipality. These findings indicate that ranges of specific interventions are likely to be necessary for the control of cholera. There is also a need to correct wrong perceptions about the transmissibility of cholera, that cholera cannot be transmitted through cow’s dung, children stool and chicken feces. On the other hand community members have been advised to use the oral rehydration salt as a first aid measure and not a preventive measure for cholera.