title: Attitudes to malaria, traditional practices and bednets (mosquito nets) as vector control measures: a comparative study in five west African countries.
abstract: Five West African communities were visited to assess the knowledge of the cause of malaria and to document traditional ways of treating and preventing the infection. Knowledge of the cause of malaria was low in the five communities visited. People were more concerned about mosquitoes being a nuisance than a cause of the infection. Various herbs were used as mosquito repellents. Malaria was treated by a number of traditional practices, including herbal remedies. Bednets were used to a varying extent, from 44% Ghana to 86% Gambia, in each community to protect against mosquito bites but also for other purposes such as privacy, decoration and protection from roof debris dropping on the bed.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratories, Fajara, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Aikins
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pickering
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Greenwood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001512:Bedding and Linens / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006169:Guinea-Bissau / Q000453:epidemiology; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012807:Sierra Leone / Q000453:epidemiology