Socio-Cultural Determinants of Lassa Fever Transmission in Kailahun and Kenema Districts, Sierra Leone
Abstract:
Lassa fever remains endemic in Sierra Leone, despite efforts to eradicate it. This study examines the socio-cultural determinants of Lassa fever transmission in Sierra Leone. A cross-sectional survey of 1,033 randomly selected participants was conducted in two endemic districts (Kailahun and Kenema) in Sierra Leone. Structured questionnaires were used to gather data from household heads. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 28. Findings indicate a high awareness of Lassa fever (90.9%), with health centers (48.9%) being the primary source of information. However, knowledge of specific symptoms such as muscle aches (23.2%) and bleeding (23.2%) remained low. Misconceptions about transmission were evident, with only 54.7% recognizing direct rodent contact as a risk factor, and 3.1% attributed it to mosquito bites. Knowledge of preventive practices were inadequate, with only 12.8% being mentioning proper food storage and 4.3% recognizing personal protective equipment use. A high percentage (91.4%) reported using traps or other rodent control methods; however, 4.9% engaged in hunting and consuming rats. Proper food storage remains a critical issue, with only 56.5% using sealed containers while 18.8% used open containers, exposing food to rodent contamination. These findings highlight a mixed landscape of behavioural change, while some protective measures have been embraced, while other risk-associated cultural practices remain embedded in community life. Analysis revealed that older age groups (AOR = 5.505, p=0.011) had significantly higher odds of experiencing Lassa fever symptoms. Poor hygiene (AOR = 1.555, p=0.008) and improper waste disposal (AOR = 2.968, p=0.046) were also key risk factors. These findings underscore the need for public health interventions to improve knowledge, dispel myths, and promote preventive behaviors to mitigate Lassa fever transmissionReferences:
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