36 W ORLD HEALTH & POPULATION Households’ Perceptions and Prioritization of Tropical Endemic Diseases in Nigeria: Implications for Priority Setting for Resource Allocation Dr. Benjamin S.C. Uzochukwu, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria Dr. Obinna E Onwujekwe, Department of Health Administration and Management, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria = Dr. Emmanuel A. Nwobi, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria Dr. Anne C. Ndu, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria Dr. Chima Onoka, Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria Dr. B.S.C. Uzochukwu, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu-campus, P.O. Box 3295 Enugu, Nigeria, Tel: 234-42-259609, Fax: 234-42-259569, Email:
[email protected] Abstract This study was undertaken to explore how rural households perceive and prioritize tropical endemic diseases in different Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Southeast Nigeria. Marked differences in perception and prioritization of endemic diseases exist across the LGAs. Malaria is ranked highest as the most serious disease, followed by typhoid fever and HIV/AIDS. In addition, malaria and other endemic diseases are wrongly perceived as not being serious in some population groups. W ORLD H EALTH & P OPULATION • V OL .9 N O .3 • O CTOBER 2007 Households’ Perceptions and Prioritization of Tropical Endemic Diseases in Nigeria 37 Introduction The health situation in Nigeria is typical of that elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. It is characterized by high maternal and childhood mortality and morbidity.