Experiences of malaria and attitudes to malaria prevention among nurses in Tanzania - An interview study

Abstract: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore experiences of malaria and attitudes to malaria prevention among nurses from Tanzania. Eleven nurses from three hospitals in northern Tanzania were interviewed. The analysis resulted in following categories: The malaria situation was so severe at that time, Being both nurse and parent, Hindrances in the battle, Sharing knowledge and There is a change. Ten out of eleven nurses had had malaria and all of them had been treated with anti-malarial drugs and many of them still had malaria regularly. They remembered times when the malaria situation was worse and the disease killed many more people. Having children resulted in constant worry. Being a nurse had advantages because they lived close to the hospitals so they could initiate early treatment and because they could afford to take preventive measures. Hindrances in the battle against malaria were other people’s lack of knowledge, poverty and difficulty to change lifestyle and environmental conditions. They were proud to be nurses and knowledge was their strength. There were geographical differences in how much hope they had for the future. The nurses in Zanzibar were the most optimistic. The nurses supported the governmental actions against malaria.