Self-Reported Malaria and Mosquito Avoidance in Relation to Household Risk Factors in a Kenyan Coastal City

Abstract

SummaryA geographically stratified cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2002 to investigate householdlevel factors associated with use of mosquito control measures and self-reported malaria in Malindi, Kenya. A total of 629 households were surveyed. Logistic regressions were used to analyse the data. Half of all households (51%) reported all occupants using an insecticide-treated bed net and at least one additional mosquito control measure such as insecticides or removal of standing water. Fortynine per cent reported a history of malaria in the household. Of the thirteen household factors analysed, low (OR=0·23, CI 0·11, 0·48) and medium (OR=0·50, CI 0·29, 0·86) education, mudwood-coral (OR=0·0·39, CI 0·24, 0·66) and mud block-plaster (OR=0·47, CI 0·25, 0·87) wall types, farming (OR=1·38, CI 1·01, 1·90) and travel to rural areas (OR=0·48, CI 0·26, 0·91) were significantly associated with the use of mosquito control, while controlling for other covariates in the model. History of reported malaria was not associated with the use of mosquito control (OR=1·22, CI 0·79, 1·88). Of the thirteen covariates analysed in the second model, only two household factors were associated with history of malaria: being located in the well-drained stratum (OR=0·49, CI 0·26, 0·96) and being bitten while in the house (OR=1·22, CI 0·19, 0·49). These results suggest that high socioeconomic status is associated with increased household-level mosquito control use, although household-level control may not be enough, as many people are exposed to biting mosquitoes while away from the house and in areas that are more likely to harbour mosquitoes.

Population Movement as a Risk Factor for Malaria Infection in High-Altitude Villages of Tahtay–Maychew District, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: A Case–Control Study

“…Other studies have shown that use of malaria prevention measures has been directly related with higher educational level. 31 However, this finding is not compatible with the result of other similar studies. 20,29 The variation observed may be explained by the differences in methodological approach among studies and socioeconomic variation of study participants.…”

Environmental, socio‐demographic and behavioural determinants of malaria risk in the western Kenyan highlands: a case–control study

“…Other studies have shown that use of malaria prevention measures has been consistently related to higher maternal education (e.g. Keating et al 2005; Noor et al 2006), yet we saw no notable associations between use of preventive measures, including bednets, and malaria risk except for a modest decreased risk among those using mosquito coils. In our study, as in that by Brooker et al (2004), practice of preventive measures was quite low.…”

Shifts in malaria vector species composition and transmission dynamics along the Kenyan coast over the past 20 years

“…Initially studies focused on malaria transmission dynamics and high incidence of severe malaria [14-17], but surprisingly found lower transmission than in western Kenya – providing evidence that high incidence of severe malaria can occur even at relatively low intensities of transmission [16,17]. These studies were proceeded by investigations of mosquito blood-feeding behaviour [15,18], vector distribution patterns [19,20], spatial-temporal variations in malaria prevalence and intensity of transmission [20], vector population genetics [21], community-based vector control [22,23], malaria vector control [24-26] and larval ecology of malaria vectors [27-29]. …”