Research
Examining the determinants of mosquito-avoidance practices in two Kenyan cities
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* Corresponding author: Kate Macintyre kmacint@tulane.edu
1 Department of International Health and Development, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, Suite 2200, 1440 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
2 Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 428, Kilifi, Kenya
3 Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine SL17, Tulane University, 1430 Tulane Ave., New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
4 Centre for Vector Biology and Control Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 1578, Kisumu, Kenya
Malaria Journal 2002, 1:14 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-1-14
Published: 15 November 2002Abstract
Background
This study assesses the behavioural and socio-economic factors associated with avoiding mosquitoes and preventing malaria in urban environments in Kenya.
Methods
Data from two cities in Kenya were gathered using a household survey and a two-stage cluster sample design. The cities were stratified based on planning and drainage observed across the urban areas. This helped control for the strong environmental and topographical variation that we assumed influences mosquito ecology. Individual interviews given to each household included questions on socio-economic status, education, housing type, water source, rubbish disposal, mosquito-prevention practices and knowledge of mosquitoes. In multivariate regression, factors measuring wealth, education level, and the communities' level of planning and drainage were used to estimate the probability that a household engages in multiple mosquito-avoidance activities, or has all members sleeping under a bed net.
Results
Our analysis shows that people from wealthier, more educated households were more likely to sleep under a net, in Kisumu (OR = 6.88; 95% CI = 2.56,18.49) and Malindi (OR = 3.80; 95% CI = 1.91,7.55). Similarly, the probability that households use several mosquito-prevention activities was highest among the wealthiest, best-educated households in Kisumu (OR = 5.15; 95% CI = 2.04,12.98), while in Malindi household wealth alone is the major determinant.
Conclusion
We demonstrate the importance of examining human-mosquito interaction in terms of how access to resources may enhance human activities. The findings illustrate that the poorest segments of society are already doing many things to protect themselves from being bitten, but they are doing less than their richer neighbours.