ATTITUDES TO MALARIA, TRADITIONAL PRACTICES AND BEDNETS (MOSQUITO NETS) AS VECTOR CONTROL MEASURES - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY IN 5 WEST-AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Five West African communities were visited to assess the knowledge of the cause of malaria and to document traditional ways of treating and preventing the infection. Knowledge of the cause of malaria was low in the five communities visited. People were more concerned about mosqui toes being a nuisance than a cause of the infection. Various herbs wer e used as mosquito repellents, Malaria was treated by a number of trad itional practices, including herbal remedies. Bednets were used to a v arying extent, from 44% Ghana to 86% Gambia, in each community to prot ect against mosquito bites but also for other purposes such as privacy , decoration and protection from roof debris dropping on the bed.