Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
National Program for Malaria Control, Center of Disease Control & Prevention, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Public Health. 2022 Aug 25;22(1):1615. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13913-3.
Imported malaria cases could be considered one of the threats to malaria elimination. Therefore, increasing migrants' access to malaria preventive measures can play an essential role in maintaining appropriate conditions and preventing malaria outbreaks. This study aimed to provide detailed information about access, utilization, and barriers to using malaria protection tools in migrants to Iran.
This study was conducted in a vast region consisting of 4 provinces and 38 cities located in the south and southeast of the country. Study participants were migrants who moved to the study area in the past three months. A sample of 4163 migrants participated in the study. They were selected through a multi-stage sampling method to obtain a representative community sample. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires about participants' socio-demographic specification, commuting characteristics, travel aim, access, ways of preparing, and reasons to use or not to use malaria protection tools. Quantitative and qualitative variables were described and analyzed finally.
The mean age of individuals was 28.6 ± 10.8, with a range of 3-88 years old. Migrants' country of origin was Afghanistan (56.6%), Pakistan (38.4%), and Iran (5%). Most migrants (69.2%) did not have malaria protection tools while staying in Iran. Among those who procured the protection tools, 74% used long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), 13.4% used mosquito repellent sticks and coil, and 12.7% did not use any tools. Respectively, lack of knowledge about where they can get LLINs, followed by being expensive, unavailability in the market, not cooperation of health officer, and no need to use were expressed as the causes for having no access. The main reasons for non-using the tools were lack of knowledge about their application, followed by a defect in protection tools, ineffectiveness, and being harmful, respectively. Migrants who were supported by an employer accessed more to LLINs.
This study reveals significant shortcomings in knowledge, access, and utilization of malaria protection tools among migrants in Iran. Inequitable access to public health services is predictable during migration; however, access to sustainable protection tools is recommended.
输入性疟疾病例可能被视为消除疟疾的威胁之一。因此，增加移民获得疟疾预防措施的机会，对于维持适当的条件和预防疟疾爆发至关重要。本研究旨在提供有关移民获取、利用和使用疟疾防护工具的详细信息。
本研究在一个由该国南部和东南部的 4 个省和 38 个城市组成的广阔地区进行。研究对象为过去三个月内迁移到研究地区的移民。共有 4163 名移民参与了这项研究。他们通过多阶段抽样方法被选为具有代表性的社区样本。通过访谈式问卷收集有关参与者社会人口统计学特征、通勤特征、旅行目的、获取途径、准备方式以及使用或不使用疟疾防护工具的原因等信息。最后对定量和定性变量进行了描述和分析。
个体的平均年龄为 28.6±10.8 岁，年龄范围为 3-88 岁。移民的原籍国是阿富汗（56.6%）、巴基斯坦（38.4%）和伊朗（5%）。大多数移民（69.2%）在伊朗逗留期间没有疟疾防护工具。在那些获得防护工具的人中，有 74%使用长效驱虫蚊帐（LLINs），13.4%使用驱蚊棒和蚊香，12.7%不使用任何工具。分别表示，缺乏获取 LLINs 的知识、价格昂贵、市场上无法获得、卫生官员不合作以及无需使用，是无法获得工具的原因。缺乏应用知识、防护工具缺陷、无效和有害，是不使用工具的主要原因。有雇主支持的移民更容易获得 LLINs。
本研究揭示了伊朗移民在疟疾防护工具的知识、获取和利用方面存在显著不足。在移民期间，公共卫生服务的公平获取是可以预见的，但建议获得可持续的防护工具。
