Abstract:
Malaria is the leading cause of death in Tanzania, killing 100,000-125,000 people
annually, the majority of which are children under five. Environmental conditions play an
important role in transmission of the disease, and therefore regulating these conditions
can help to reduce disease burden. Environmental management practices for disease
control (e.g. draining stagnant water and eliminating mosquito breeding habitats) can be
implemented at the community level as a complement to other malaria control methods.
This study assesses current knowledge and practices related to mosquito ecology and
environmental management in Mvomero District, a rural, agricultural area in Tanzania.
A total of 408 household surveys, 4 focus group discussions, and 3 in-depth interviews
were conducted in 10 villages in the district. Results indicate that while most
respondents understand the link between mosquitoes and malaria, many do not have an
in-depth understanding of mosquito ecology. For example, 30% of respondents did not
know where mosquito larvae live and nearly 40% incorrectly believed that cutting grasses
and bushes around the home reduces mosquito abundance. Regarding environmental
management practices, 50% of respondents reported cleaning residential surroundings to
protect themselves from malaria and 18% drained stagnant water. Respondents with
greater knowledge of mosquito ecology and environmental management were
significantly more likely to perform these practices. Qualitative results highlighted
community beliefs that environmental management is an important method for malaria
control, and that education is necessary to increase community participation in these
activities.
The findings indicate that an educational program highlighting mosquito ecology and
effective environmental management techniques would be an important step in increasing
community participation in environmental management for malaria control in the region.
