A family shielded from malaria by a protective mosquito net.

Malaria Prevention 101: Simple Steps to Protect Your Family

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 3 min read.

"Is malaria knowledge enough? Discover easy, actionable steps to protect your loved ones from malaria, especially in coastal communities."

Malaria remains a significant public health challenge, especially in regions with warm and humid climates. In Nigeria, like many West African countries, malaria is a major cause of illness and death. The economic costs, including healthcare and lost productivity, are staggering. Yet, many people lack the essential knowledge needed to protect themselves and their families effectively.

While significant efforts target young children, adolescents often get overlooked in malaria prevention strategies. This gap is alarming because adolescents can be powerful agents of change within their families and communities. Equipping them with the right knowledge and practices is crucial for sustainable malaria control.

This article addresses that gap by providing accessible, actionable steps to help families, especially those in coastal communities like Calabar, Nigeria, protect themselves from malaria. We'll explore knowledge gaps and practical solutions that can be easily integrated into everyday life.

Understanding Malaria: Beyond the Basics

A family shielded from malaria by a protective mosquito net.

Before diving into prevention, it's essential to clarify what malaria is and how it spreads. Malaria is not caused by bad air or curses but by a parasite transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Knowing this simple fact is the first step in combating misinformation.

In Calabar, a coastal community in Nigeria, common misconceptions persist. Many residents incorrectly believe malaria is transmitted through contaminated food, kissing, or even sexual intercourse. Such beliefs can undermine effective prevention efforts. Only a small fraction of people can provide an acceptable definition.

Accurate Knowledge: Only a small percentage of individuals correctly identify that malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites transmitted via mosquito bites.
Vector Identification: A minority of people know that the female Anopheles mosquito transmits the malaria parasite.
Common Misconceptions: Incorrect modes of transmission are often cited.

Focusing on the correct mode of transmission is essential for effective prevention. Understanding that malaria spreads only through mosquito bites helps people target the appropriate preventative measures.

Empowering Communities for a Malaria-Free Future

Malaria prevention requires more than just individual action; it demands community-wide effort. By addressing knowledge gaps, promoting effective strategies, and empowering adolescents as agents of change, we can significantly reduce the burden of malaria. Through collaborative action, we can create healthier, malaria-free communities for everyone.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4102/phcfm.v2i1.103, Alternate LINK

Title: Malaria: Knowledge And Prevention Practices Among School Adolescents In A Coastal Community In Calabar, Nigeria

Subject: Family Practice

Journal: African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine

Publisher: AOSIS

Authors: Ndifreke E. Udonwa, Abraham N. Gyuse, Aniekan J. Etokidem

Published: 2010-03-04

Everything You Need To Know

What is the primary cause of malaria, and how is it transmitted?

Malaria is caused by a parasite transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. It is not caused by bad air, curses, or other misconceptions. This understanding is the first step in effective prevention. In coastal communities like Calabar, Nigeria, it is crucial to dispel incorrect beliefs about malaria transmission, such as through contaminated food, kissing, or sexual intercourse, which can undermine prevention efforts.

Why is accurate knowledge about malaria transmission so important for prevention?

Accurate knowledge is essential because it directly informs the specific preventative measures people should take. When individuals understand that malaria spreads only through mosquito bites, they can focus on strategies such as using mosquito nets, wearing protective clothing, and eliminating mosquito breeding sites. This targeted approach is far more effective than addressing incorrect modes of transmission.

What are some common misconceptions about malaria transmission, and where are they prevalent?

Common misconceptions include beliefs that malaria is transmitted through contaminated food, kissing, or sexual intercourse. These misconceptions are prevalent in coastal communities like Calabar, Nigeria. Addressing these incorrect beliefs is a critical component of effective prevention efforts, as they can lead people to take ineffective or inappropriate preventative actions.

Why are adolescents specifically targeted in malaria prevention strategies, and what role do they play?

Adolescents are often overlooked in malaria prevention strategies, despite being powerful agents of change within their families and communities. Equipping them with the right knowledge and practices is crucial for sustainable malaria control. Empowering adolescents means they can advocate for prevention, correct misinformation, and influence behavior within their households, contributing to a community-wide effort to combat malaria.

Besides individual actions, what broader approach is necessary for malaria prevention?

Malaria prevention requires a community-wide effort, going beyond individual actions. This approach involves addressing knowledge gaps, promoting effective strategies, and empowering adolescents as agents of change. Collaborative action is essential to create healthier, malaria-free communities, ensuring that everyone benefits from these preventative measures and reducing the overall burden of malaria, especially in regions like Nigeria, where it is a major public health challenge.