Malaria Cases in Southern Palawan: Implications for Enhancing Local Prevention and Programs

Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Southern Palawan, characterized by fluctuating incidence rates and diverse transmission dynamics. Indeed, there is still an increase of cases in Southern Palawan and some have deficit knowledge about malaria. This study determined the malaria cases in Southern Palawan which are limited to the municipality of Bataraza and assessed the effectiveness of existing local prevention and program strategies. Specifically, it explored how demographic factors influence the level of knowledge and the level of perception on malaria. Using a descriptive quantitative research design, 300 random selected people from the three barangays in Bataraza in Southern Palawan participated in the study. The researcher adopted a questionnaire, based on Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, and measured on a 5-point Likert scale, gathered data on demographics and self-assessed competence. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were utilized for data analysis. Result showed that participants were mostly young adults aged 20 to 25 which correlates with greater involvement in health education initiatives. Additionally, a nearly balanced gender distribution suggests that female respondents may play a significant role in health discussions and community engagement. The ethnicity of Palaw-an and Tagalog groups are culturally sensitive health interventions that enhance malaria awareness. With only elementary and secondary education raising concerns about their health literacy regarding malaria. Those who are employed generally have better access to health resources underscoring the necessity for interventions aimed at unemployed individuals. This evaluates that respondents’ knowledge of malaria revealing its high awareness of its causes and symptoms, while indicating a moderate understanding of transmission dynamics prevention strategies. These findings suggest a solid foundation of knowledge with opportunities for improvement in specific areas, particularly community-level interventions. The respondents also exhibit a high perception of malaria prevention practices understanding of its public health impact, reflecting active engagement in preventive behaviors. Overall, the findings underscore need to reinforce existing knowledge, address misconceptions and promote health seeking-behaviors to improve malaria awareness and prevention in the community.