<p>Malaria is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting young children more than any other group. Insecticide treated bed nets provide efficient protection against malaria if used correctly and consistently. The Health Belief Model proposes that preventive health behaviour is influenced by individuals’ cognitions and beliefs. Qualitative interviews were conducted with parents (N=20) in Zanzibar to explore the cognitions influencing their use of bed nets for children under five. Malaria was perceived as severe and common for young children. Bed nets were considered efficient in preventing malaria. Reasons for not using were beliefs about low risk of infection due to low mosquito density in the hot seasons, and perceptions of bed nets causing heat. Mixed messages from different malaria prevention measures may have undesirable effects. These findings could be used to optimize the design of malaria prevention strategies.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA/oai:DiVA.org:su-6923 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Eskilsson, Helena, Jansson, Andreas |
| Publisher | Stockholm University, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Department of Psychology |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, text |
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