Factors that contribute to the low use of bed nets in a malaria endemic zone of sub-Saharan Africa: a questionnaire survey in a rural population in Zambia.

BACKGROUND

One objective of the World Health Organisation in the Roll Back Malaria initiative is to intensify the use of impregnated bed nets in malaria endemic regions.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate knowledge about malaria transmission, awareness of disease prevention by the use of insecticide treated bed nets and current bed net use among hospital users in rural Zambia.

DESIGN

A questionnaire survey.

SUBJECTS

Relatives of children (six months to five years) admitted to St Francis' hospital in the Eastern Province of Zambia.

RESULTS

The majority of those surveyed understood how malaria is transmitted (90.7%), knew the main clinical features of malaria (99.4%) and knew that bed nets are useful in reducing the frequency of getting malaria (98.1%). However, very few of those questioned owned a bed net (27%). This is primarily due to a lack of availability of affordable nets rather than a lack of understanding about their use.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey demonstrates a willingness of the participants to purchase subsidised bed nets. We propose that donor provision of affordable bed nets in hospitals and rural health clinics would be a readily achievable method of increasing bed net use in rural Zambia and so help reach this objective of the Roll Back Malaria initiative.