Human behaviour, much of which is influenced by social, cultural, economic, and political factors, is clearly related to health, including the risk for infectious diseases like malaria. There are many reasons why particular behaviours exist and they often are tied to considerable benefits in areas quite distinct from health. The principal reason for which people do not accept new kinds of health behaviour is that the behaviour being advocated is inconvenient, produces unwanted side-effects, or does not give visible results (MacCormack, 1984). Thus, it is not always the case that “these people do not know any better," but rather that their native logic and rationality make sense within the realities and limitations of their local circumstances. Poverty creates preconditions to malaria, in that the means to acquire protection such as treated bed nets, repellants and insecticides from mosquitoes are hindered. It is well established in the world that morbidity and mortality ...
Class of 2022 - Graduate Entry Medical Programme, University of Ghana, Legon