Community knowledge and acceptance of larviciding for malaria control in a rural district of east-central Tanzania.
The use of microbial larvicides, a form of larval source management, is a less commonly used malaria control intervention that nonetheless has significant potential as a component of an integrated vector management strategy. We evaluated community acceptability of larviciding in a rural district in east-central Tanzania using data from 962 household surveys, 12 focus group discussions, and 24 in-depth interviews. Most survey respondents trusted in the safety (73.1%) and efficacy of larviciding, both with regards to mosquito control (92.3%) and to reduce malaria infection risk (91.9%). Probing these perceptions using a Likert scale provides a more detailed picture. Focus group participants and key informants were also receptive to larviciding, but stressed the importance of sensitization before its implementation. Overall, 73.4% of survey respondents expressed a willingness to make a nominal household contribution to a larviciding program, a proportion which decreased as the proposed contribution increased. The lower-bound mean willingness to pay is estimated at 2,934 Tanzanian Shillings (approximately US$1.76) per three month period. We present a multivariate probit regression analysis examining factors associated with willingness to pay. Overall, our findings point to a receptive environment in a rural setting in Tanzania for the use of microbial larvicides in malaria control.
National Institute for Medical Research, 2448 Barack Obama Drive, P.O. Box 9653 Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania. lmboera@nimr.or.tz.
Leonard E G
LE
Mboera
Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 310 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA. kramer@duke.edu.
Randall A
RA
Kramer
School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, 440 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. mlmirand@umich.edu.
Marie Lynn
ML
Miranda
National Institute for Medical Research, 2448 Barack Obama Drive, P.O. Box 9653 Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania. stellakilima@yahoo.com.
Stella P
SP
Kilima
National Institute for Medical Research, 2448 Barack Obama Drive, P.O. Box 9653 Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania. eshayo@nimr.or.tz.
Elizabeth H
EH
Shayo
Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 310 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA. adriane.lesser@duke.edu.
Adriane
A
Lesser
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009032:Mosquito Control; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania; D055815:Young Adult