Perceptions, Representations and Experiences of Malaria Prophylaxis in Patients Born in Endemic Areas and Living in France.

Disease, Infectious, Malaria, Travel-Associated Infections

perception, representation, experience, questionnaire

The aim of this study is to analyze the perceptions, representations and expe-riences of malaria prophylaxis in patients born in endemic areas and living in France. This analysis could lead to better understanding and communication between the medical profession and patients in malaria. It would also provide patient-specific responses to their expectations, as to their families.

Malaria is the most common vector-borne (mosquito-borne) disease in the world. It is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, and is transmitted to humans by an Anopheles mosquito bite. Malaria rages in most intertropical regions and in 91 countries. Hence, almost half of the world's population is expose. The estimated number of cases was 219 million (CI95 = 203-262) in 2018, including 200 million in Africa (92%). The number of deaths in 2017 reached 435,000, of which 93% in Africa. In 2018, in metropolitan France, the National Reference Center recorded 2,730 reported cases including one case of indigenous malaria, the other cases were import cases. There were 12.8% of severe forms and 84.9% of the patients were of African origin and had stayed in Africa, without taking anti-malaria chemoprophylaxis. The fight against malaria is therefore a major public health issue in the world and in France, with in particular the need for better access to pre-trip consultations, in town or in hospital, and improved key messages deliverance on this frequent and potentially serious pathology, and also the means of protection (chemoprophylaxis, repellents and mosquito nets). The role of general practitioners is essential in this fight since they represent the first source of information for 60% of patients. To this effect, Recommendations for good practice for the management of imported malaria actualized and published in 2018 emphasizes these preventive measures for travelers bound for endemic areas. The non-compliance rate was estimated at 29% in a 2007 study by Pistone et al. in patients from endemic areas when they are among the most affected patients. These data have not yet been verified for more than 10 years, and it seems important to actualized this knowledge in the light of social changes. In addition, prevention methods borrowed from herbal medicine are sometimes offered elsewhere, such as Artemisia herbal teas, despite the scientific data that caused a lack of effectiveness. Overall, few studies have explored the reasons for this obstacle to chemoprophylaxis and classically proposed anti-vector measures and a better understanding could allow a better delivery of information during our consultations.

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