Cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattidae) Infestation and their Perceived Importance in some Hospitals and Restaurants in Makurdi, Nigeria
DOI:36108/NJE/1102/82.0130
OMUDU, E. A. AND ALUOR, E.T.
ABSTRACT: This study involved the killing and counting technique to sample cockroach population in hospitals and restaurants in Makurdi. Questionnaires were administered to 200 staff of the hospitals .and restaurants to determine their cockroach-related knowledge, attitude and practices. Participatory pest ranking exercises were conducted to ascertain the perceived seriousness and importance of cockroach infestation. A total of 4,456 cockroaches were collected, 63.3% were from restaurants and 33~7%from hospitals. Periplaneta american a accounted for 64.0% of the total cockroach killed. There was a significant difference in species preference for restaurants compared to hospitals (X2 = 5.19 df = 1, P<0.05). Vector competence of cockroaches was highly underrated as cockroach infestation was considered more as a nuisance and source of embarrassment than a disease vector. Only 36.1% of hospital staff thought that cockroach infestation could lead to additional health risk for patients. The outcome of this ,study justifies the need for vector control experts to translate this information into practical ways of promoting and improving cockroach prevention and control
Keywords: Cockroach Infestation, Hospitals, Restaurants, Staff Perception, Makurdi