USE OF MALARIA PREVENTION MEASURES IN MALAWIAN HOUSEHOLDS

Information on malaria prevention practices in households was obtained in a nation-wide knowledge, attitudes, and practices survey in Malawi . Of the 1,531 heads of household questioned, 55 % were able to identi fy mosquitoes as the cause of malaria. Use of any type of malaria prev ention method was reported by 52 % of respondents. Among users, 47 % u sed commercial products (insecticide, mosquito coils, bednets), and 64 % used natural measures (burning leaves, dung, or wood); 11 % used bo th. The most common commercial measure used was mosquito coils (16 %) followed by insecticide spray (11 %) and bednets (7 %). Increasing hou sehold income and educational level of the household head were strongl y correlated with use of commercial methods to prevent malaria; househ olds with an income ranked moderate or greater were eight times more l ikely to have used a purchased product. Use of natural measures was co rrelated with lower income and educational level. Thirty-six percent o f respondents reported having heard or seen information on malaria in the previous year. Use of household malaria preventive measures in Mal awi is very low and imcome-dependent. Educational messages are require d to improve understanding and use of affordable measures.