"Before we used to get sick all the time": perceptions of malaria and use of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs) in a rural Kenyan community

Malaria Journal

Research

Eric S Lugada¹  Caroline Othoro²  Timothy DV Dye³  Jacqueline Smith⁴  James G Kahn⁵  Rose Apondi⁶ 

[1] CHF International, Nairobi, Kenya;Department of Microbiology and Immunology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA;Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, State University of New York Upstate Medical University. SUNY Upstate Medical University, Institute for Human Performance, 505 Irving Avenue, Room 4004, 13210, Syracuse, New York, USA;Department of Sociology, Syracuse University, NY, USA;Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA;Uganda Virus Research Institute, Nakiwogo, Entebbe, Uganda;

关键词: Malaria;    Malaria Incidence;    Western Province;    Kenya Medical Research Institute;    Malarial Disease;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1475-2875-9-345

 received in 2010-05-05, accepted in 2010-11-30,  发布年份 2010

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMalaria is a leading global cause of preventable morbidity and mortality, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, despite recent advances in treatment and prevention technologies. Scale-up and wide distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) could rapidly decrease malarial disease in endemic areas, if used properly and continuously. Studies have shown that effective use of LLINs depends, in part, upon understanding causal factors associated with malaria. This study examined malaria beliefs, attitudes, and practices toward LLINs assessed during a large-scale integrated prevention campaign (IPC) in rural Kenya.MethodsQualitative interviews were conducted with 34 IPC participants who received LLINs as part of a comprehensive prevention package of goods and services. One month after distribution, interviewers asked these individuals about their attitudes and beliefs regarding malaria, and about their use of LLINs.ResultsVirtually all participants noted that mosquitoes were involved in causing malaria, though a substantial proportion of participants (47 percent) also mentioned an incorrect cause in addition to mosquitoes. For example, participants commonly noted that the weather (rain, cold) or consumption of bad food and water caused malaria. Regardless, most participants used the LLINs they were given and most mentioned positive benefits from their use, namely reductions in malarial illness and in the costs associated with its diagnosis and treatment.ConclusionsAttitudes toward LLINs were positive in this rural community in Western Kenya, and respondents noted benefits with LLIN use. With improved understanding and clarification of the direct (mosquitoes) and indirect (e.g., standing water) causes of malaria, it is likely that LLIN use can be sustained, offering effective household-level protection against malaria.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Dye et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010