MALARIA SELF-CARE IN NIMBORAN SUBDISTRICT, JAYAPURA DISTRICT, PAPUA PROVINCE, INDONESIA

Papua is one of five provinces with high malaria incidence in Indonesia. In 2009, the Indonesian Ministry of Health issued decree No 293 on malaria elimination. Socioeconomic, culture and psychological conditions, and perception of malaria are determining factors in seeking treatment. Health seeking behavior also are influenced by enabling factors, such as income and health insurance; and by health providers, such as availability of health care facilities, tariffs and living locationss. Self-care is one form of community participation in knowledge, prevention and early detection of malaria, and in seeking treatment and compliance to malaria treatment, especially among inhabitants in malaria endemic areas. This study was an observation in Nimboran Subdistrict, Jayapura District, Papua Province, Indonesia during 2013. Thirty individuals from ‘Pengurus Rukun Tetangga’ group were chosen randomly for the survey. Facts evaluated were knowledge of cause of malaria, disease transmission, symptoms and complication, diagnosis, treatment and side effects, medical seeking behavior and treatment, vector breeding sites, and attitude towards compliance of malaria treatment and use of mosquito nets. Self-care against malaria was considered important by 65% of the respondents. All participants had visited health centers and complied with prescribed drug regimen. All respondents with malaria-infected neighbors visited health centers. Regarding antimalarial malaria drugs, the majority of respondents knew of Darplex® and were aware that a common side effect of antimalarials was tinnitus. The majority of respondents identified ponds as malaria vector breeding places and recognized the importance of managing vectors in malaria prevention. The study concludes that malaria self-care was needed for awareness, prevention and treatment of this debilitating disease.