Do malaria preventive interventions reach the poor? Socioeconomic inequities in expenditure on and use of mosquito control tools in Sudan.
OBJECTIVE
To determine levels of socioeconomic inequities in the prevention of malaria, and to examine the implications of the findings for improving the equitable control of malaria in the Sudan.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey using a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered to 720 randomly selected householders from six localities in Gezira and Khartoum States. A socioeconomic status (SES) index, which was developed using principal components analysis, was used to examine socioeconomic inequity in the prevention of malaria.


RESULTS
Socioeconomic status was positively related to expenditures and use of vector control tools. The poorest households spent the least amounts of money to prevent malaria and were the least likely to own mosquito nets.


CONCLUSIONS
The inequity in the prevention of malaria in the study areas has to be redressed before malaria can be effectively controlled in Sudan. Malaria control managers should continually determine the extent to which malaria preventive tools reach the poorest socioeconomic groups, and fashion strategies that will ensure that equity is always maintained.
Onwujekwe
Obinna
O
Gates Malaria Partnership, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. onwujekwe@yahoo.co.uk
Malik
El-Fatih
el-F
Mustafa
Sara Hassan
SH
Mnzavaa
Abraham
A
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D009033:Culicidae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics*; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D013397:Sudan