title: Community Perceptions and Practices about Malaria Prevention and Control in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General knowledge of at risk people regarding malaria is key element to facilitate appropriate treatment and prevention behaviours. The aim of this study was to assess the family heads' understanding of malaria transmission, signs and symptoms, and preventive measures in malaria-affected districts of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2009 in a cluster randomized cross-sectional survey data were collected from the heads of 5,466 randomly selected households by trained interviewers and a validated questionnaire. Only one adult person was interviewed per household Once all the information collected and entered to the SPSS Ver. 18 analysis was done and descriptive statistics were used to summarize results. Point estimates and 95% confidence intervals were also estimated for indicators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  63.8% [95% CI: 62.2 - 65.4] of the participants recognized fever as a sign of malaria, 56.4% [95% CI: 54.6 - 58.2] reported that mosquito bites cause malaria and about 35% [95% CI: 32.7 - 37.1] of participants mentioned that the use of mosquito nets could prevent malaria. Furthermore, about one-third of selected samples in target districts did not know symptoms, transmission route and appropriate prevention method of malaria. Data also suggests a slight variation by residency, but substantial discrepancy according to the region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  General knowledge of respondents concerning malaria is too far from the levels required to be constructive for malaria elimination. Therefore, the survey suggests developing, and implementing effective health promotion policies to increase the awareness of households about the symptoms, transmission route and control measures of malaria.
authors.affiliation: 1. Promotion Research Centre, School of Health, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences , Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rakhshani
authors.affiliation: 1. Promotion Research Centre, School of Health, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences , Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ansari-Moghadam
authors.affiliation: 1. Promotion Research Centre, School of Health, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences , Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: 2. United Nation Development Program , Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansoor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranjbar
authors.affiliation: 3. Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Ministry of Health and Medical, Education , Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raeisi
authors.affiliation: 4. Dept. of Health education & Promotion, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Tayebeh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rakhshani
keywords: Iran; Knowledge; Malaria; Prevention