Who sleeps under bednets in Ghana? A doer/non-doer analysis of malaria prevention behaviours
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria prevention programmes should be based in part on knowledge of why some individuals use bednets while others do not. This paper identifies factors and characteristics of women that affect bednet use among their children less t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2006-07-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Online Access: | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/5/1/61 |
| _version_ | 1818807583392137216 |
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| author | Ivins Natasha Gray Bobbi Dearden Kirk Crookston Benjamin De La Cruz Natalie Alder Stephen Davis Robb |
| author_facet | Ivins Natasha Gray Bobbi Dearden Kirk Crookston Benjamin De La Cruz Natalie Alder Stephen Davis Robb |
| author_sort | Ivins Natasha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria prevention programmes should be based in part on knowledge of why some individuals use bednets while others do not. This paper identifies factors and characteristics of women that affect bednet use among their children less than five years of age in Ghana.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data come from the baseline component of an evaluation of Freedom from Hunger's malaria curriculum. A quasi-experimental design was used to select clients (n = 516) of <it>Credit with Education </it>(an integrated package of microfinance and health education) and non-clients (n = 535). Chi-squares, Fisher's Exact tests and logistic regression were used to compare the characteristics of mothers whose children use bednets (doers) with those whose children do not (non-doers) and to identify factors associated with bednet use among children less than five years of age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The following factors were most closely associated with bednet use: region of residence; greater food security; and caregivers' beliefs about symptoms, causation and groups most vulnerable to malaria. Most respondents knew mosquitoes caused malaria; however, 20.6% of doers and 12.3% of non-doers (p = .0228) thought overworking oneself caused malaria. Ninety percent of doers and 77.0% of non-doers felt that sleeping under a net was protective against malaria (p = .0040). In addition, 16.5% of doers and 7.5% of non-doers (p = .0025) identified adult males as most vulnerable to malaria.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Greater knowledge about malaria does not always translate into improved bednet use. Though culturally-based ideas about malaria may vary between communities, integrating them into traditional health education messages may enhance the effectiveness of public health efforts.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T19:27:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-70d9d355f6654fdba113a6e836bd6806 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T19:27:58Z |
| publishDate | 2006-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-70d9d355f6654fdba113a6e836bd68062022-12-21T20:55:48ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752006-07-01516110.1186/1475-2875-5-61Who sleeps under bednets in Ghana? A doer/non-doer analysis of malaria prevention behavioursIvins NatashaGray BobbiDearden KirkCrookston BenjaminDe La Cruz NatalieAlder StephenDavis Robb<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria prevention programmes should be based in part on knowledge of why some individuals use bednets while others do not. This paper identifies factors and characteristics of women that affect bednet use among their children less than five years of age in Ghana.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data come from the baseline component of an evaluation of Freedom from Hunger's malaria curriculum. A quasi-experimental design was used to select clients (n = 516) of <it>Credit with Education </it>(an integrated package of microfinance and health education) and non-clients (n = 535). Chi-squares, Fisher's Exact tests and logistic regression were used to compare the characteristics of mothers whose children use bednets (doers) with those whose children do not (non-doers) and to identify factors associated with bednet use among children less than five years of age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The following factors were most closely associated with bednet use: region of residence; greater food security; and caregivers' beliefs about symptoms, causation and groups most vulnerable to malaria. Most respondents knew mosquitoes caused malaria; however, 20.6% of doers and 12.3% of non-doers (p = .0228) thought overworking oneself caused malaria. Ninety percent of doers and 77.0% of non-doers felt that sleeping under a net was protective against malaria (p = .0040). In addition, 16.5% of doers and 7.5% of non-doers (p = .0025) identified adult males as most vulnerable to malaria.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Greater knowledge about malaria does not always translate into improved bednet use. Though culturally-based ideas about malaria may vary between communities, integrating them into traditional health education messages may enhance the effectiveness of public health efforts.</p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/5/1/61 |
| spellingShingle | Ivins Natasha Gray Bobbi Dearden Kirk Crookston Benjamin De La Cruz Natalie Alder Stephen Davis Robb Who sleeps under bednets in Ghana? A doer/non-doer analysis of malaria prevention behaviours Malaria Journal |
| title | Who sleeps under bednets in Ghana? A doer/non-doer analysis of malaria prevention behaviours |
| title_full | Who sleeps under bednets in Ghana? A doer/non-doer analysis of malaria prevention behaviours |
| title_fullStr | Who sleeps under bednets in Ghana? A doer/non-doer analysis of malaria prevention behaviours |
| title_full_unstemmed | Who sleeps under bednets in Ghana? A doer/non-doer analysis of malaria prevention behaviours |
| title_short | Who sleeps under bednets in Ghana? A doer/non-doer analysis of malaria prevention behaviours |
| title_sort | who sleeps under bednets in ghana a doer non doer analysis of malaria prevention behaviours |
| url | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/5/1/61 |
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