ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS AND KNOWLEDGE OF CHOLERA PREVENTION IN OWERRI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Cholera continues to pose a serious public health threat in Nigeria, especially in communities with poor access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services. This study set out to evaluate association between demographic factors and knowledge of cholera prevention in Owerri North Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional design to achieve the study objectives. Structured pretested questionnaire were used to collect data from 412 randomly selected respondents and the result was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to explore any association between knowledge levels and socio-demographic factors. Items used to evaluate knowledge of cholera prevention include demographic factors of the respondents were age, education and occupation play a vital role in the level knowledge of cholera prevention.The findings of the study reveals that most respondents (69.7%) had heard about cholera, source of their information mainly from local healthcenters (40.8%) and the media (24.0%). However about (17.7%) didn’t know that cholera is a bacterial disease spread through contaminated food and water. Half of the respondents (51.2%) correctly recognized symptoms like severe diarrhea and dehydration, while 38.3% identified the rice-water stool. Only (26.9%) were aware of any cholera prevention programs in their communities. While nearly (60%) felt they were at risk of contacting cholera, close to (43%) were not satisfied with the existing preventive efforts. Some of the major obstacles people mentioned included difficulty building toilets in sandy soil (25.2%) and limited financial resources(15.0%).Statistical analysis showed strong association between people’s knowledge of cholera and their education level (p = 0.000), occupation (p = 0.001), age (p = 0.012), marital status (p = 0.025), religion (p = 0.001), and ethnic group (p = 0.033). Those with higher levels of education and formal jobs had more knowledge about the disease. In conclusion, even though most people had heard of cholera, many lacked detailed knowledge about how to prevent it. It’s essential to invest in targeted education campaigns and practical support that reflect the realities of each community.