title: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of malaria control among communities from the health district of Forécariah in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malaria is the leading cause of death in children under 5-yr of age in the Republic of Guinea. This study aimed at investigating the knowledge, attitudes and practices of malaria control in urban and rural communities in Guinea in order to better target future health interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of 200 randomly selected households was conducted in an urban site and in three rural villages within the health district of Forιcariah using two semi-structured questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 18.5% of the respondents were aware of the role of mosquitoes in the transmission of malaria in both urban and rural households. Mosquito nets were identified as a malaria prevention method by 11.5% of the participants and only 8.5% of the respondents mentioned stagnant water as a potential mosquito breeding site. Households' heads were more aware of mosquito control methods, with 56 and 42% of the respondents recognizing that bednets or insecticidal coils can protect from mosquitoes, respectively. Despite the limited knowledge of malaria transmission and prevention, 55% of the households owned at least one long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LLIN) and 79% of the net-owning households slept under a net/LLIN the night before the survey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to maximize the benefits of malaria control strategies, health education should be implemented, building on the higher awareness of mosquito control methods and stressing the role of vectors in transmitting the disease.
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ruberto
authors.forename: Seydouba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Camara
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Banek
authors.forename: Marcel Kovana
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Loua
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000639:trends*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016701:Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population