Sande Shadreck, Jagals Paul, Mupeta Bartholomew, Chadambuka Addmore
Tshwane University of Technology, Department of Environmental Health Private Bag X680 Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
Pan Afr Med J. 2012;13:5. Epub 2012 Sep 6.
In 2007, Zimbabwe government distributed rectangular insecticide treated nets in Chipinge District, covering 100% of population at risk. However, malaria morbidity continued increasing from 492/1000 (49.2%) in 2007 to 667/1000 (66.7%) in 2008. A study was conducted in Chipinge District in May 2009 to investigate the use of rectangular insecticide treated nets and factors affecting their use in malaria prevention.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Quantitative and qualitative methods were triangulated to assess utilisation of rectangular insecticide treated nets. Five interviewers administered 380 questionnaires to senior matriarchs selected from five wards, with 19,667 sampling frame (19,667/380 = 52). Five focus group discussions were conducted. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, while qualitative data were summarised into thematic areas.
Approximately, 95% of respondents knew that malaria was caused by mosquito bites. Perception of nets as malaria preventative measure was high (88%). Utilization of rectangular insecticide treated nets was low (33%) with 81% of those not using them expressed difficulty procedures of mounting them and unavailability of related accessories as main reasons. People preferred conical insecticide treated nets (84%) compared to rectangular insecticide treated nets (15%).
Although the Chipinge people accepted insecticide treated nets for malaria prevention, procedure of mounting rectangular insecticide treated nets and accessing related accessories prevented consistent use.In order for insecticide treated net project to have impact on malaria prevention, priority should be given to conical shape or rectangular shape with adequate accessories like wire nails and strings or twine.
2007年，津巴布韦政府在奇平格区发放了长方形驱虫蚊帐，覆盖了100%的疟疾高危人群。然而，疟疾发病率持续上升，从2007年的492/1000（49.2%）增至2008年的667/1000（66.7%）。2009年5月在奇平格区开展了一项研究，以调查长方形驱虫蚊帐的使用情况以及影响其用于疟疾预防的因素。
开展了一项描述性横断面研究。采用定量和定性方法相结合的方式来评估长方形驱虫蚊帐的使用情况。五名访谈员向从五个选区选出的380名年长女性户主发放问卷，抽样框架为19,667人（19,667/380 = 52）。开展了五次焦点小组讨论。定量数据使用社会科学统计软件包进行分析，而定性数据则归纳为不同主题领域。
约95%的受访者知道疟疾是由蚊虫叮咬所致。将蚊帐视为疟疾预防措施的认知度很高（88%）。长方形驱虫蚊帐的使用率较低（33%），81%未使用蚊帐的人表示安装程序困难以及相关配件难以获取是主要原因。与长方形驱虫蚊帐（15%）相比，人们更喜欢圆锥形驱虫蚊帐（84%）。
尽管奇平格区居民认可使用驱虫蚊帐预防疟疾，但长方形驱虫蚊帐的安装程序以及获取相关配件的问题阻碍了其持续使用。为使驱虫蚊帐项目对疟疾预防产生影响，应优先选择圆锥形或配备诸如铁丝钉、绳子或麻线等充足配件的长方形蚊帐。
