Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Kraler, B.
Mosquito net usage for malaria prevention among secondary school students in east central Uganda
[ Diplomarbeit ] Medical University of Graz; 2013. pp. 77
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Kessler Harald
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Abstract Background: In 2010, Malaria was responsible for 219 million cases (154 to 289 million) and an estimated 660,000 deaths (610,000 to 971,000) according to WHO data. The highest mortality rate remains in Sub-Saharan Africa with insecticidal mosquito nets being the most important vector control intervention next to indoor residual spraying for endemic regions. Objectives: To investigate mosquito net usage among secondary school students in east central Uganda, a region with high, year-round malaria transmission. To analyze differences in mosquito net usage according to socioeconomic background, level of knowledge about malaria, health care seeking behavior, sex, and additional factors that might influence mosquito net usage. Methods: 286 students were invited to fill out a questionnaire. Information about socioeconomic background, level of knowledge about malaria, health care seeking behavior, mosquito net usage, frequency of net use, reasons for the lack of a net, and malaria morbidity in the last month was collected. Results: 258 students met the inclusion criteria. More than half of the students (57.4%) did not sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquito net usage was highest among students who lived in brick houses (49.5%), went to school by public transport (77.8%), routinely visited the local health center for malaria treatment (55.1%), did not report malaria morbidity in the last month (75.7%), and were female (47.1%). Mosquito net usage was lowest among students who lived in mud-walled houses (11.4%), usually walked to school (37.1%), did not follow a specific management plan when sick of malaria (8.3%), had suffered from malaria in the last month (29.1%), and were male (38.6%). Conclusion: Mosquito net usage among students attending a secondary school in east central Uganda was low, falls short of the recommended national and global levels of usage, and needs a net distribution campaign to meet targets of universal coverage by 2015.