Awareness of childhood pneumonia in Benin City, Nigeria

Background : Mortality from pneumonia can be prevented by prompt recognition of symptoms of pneumonia by caregivers at home and appropriate seeking for medical care in a health facility. Active participation in pneumonia control by caregivers is dependent on the extent to which the members of the community are aware of  features of pneumonia and recognising that the child needs medical attention. Objective : To document the knowledge of community members about pneumonia using traders (market women and men in a popular market in Benin City, Nigeria). Design : A descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting : Edaiken market, Benin City, Nigeria. Subjects : All traders, women and men in Edaiken market Benin City Nigeria. Results : Of the 1374 respondents, 1220(88.8%) about pneumonia. Of these 1220, 57.9% correctly identified that pneumonia affects the lungs and exposure to breeze was the risk factor of pneumonia (86.7% of respondents). Knowledge score for  pneumonia was generally low with most respondents 1140(93.5%) scoring < 10 (Poor); and 79(6.5%) had scores 10 – 14 (Fair). Only one person (0.1%) had a score ≥ 15 (Good knowledge). Married individuals were five times more likely to have fair knowledge of pneumonia when compared to the unmarried individuals (OR = 5.0, p = 0.01). Also statistical significant proportion of respondents with presence of an under-five year old in the household had fair knowledge of childhood pneumonia when compared with household with no child younger than five years (p = 0.00). Conclusion : General knowledge of the traders in Benin City about childhood pneumonia was poor. There is need for improved public awareness on childhood pneumonia in this community.