Socioeconomic factors, attitudes practices associated with malaria prevention in the coastal plain of Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mexico is in the malaria pre elimination phase; therefore, continuous assessment understanding of the social behavioural risk factors related to exposure to malaria are necessary to achieve the overall goal. The aim of this research was to investigate socio economic backgrounds, attitudes practices related with malaria in rural locations from the coastal plain of Chiapas. METHODS: In January 2012, 542 interviews were conducted to householders from 20 villages across the coastal plain of Chiapas. Questions were about housing conditions, protection from mosquito bites general information of householders. Chi2 analyses were performed to see whether there was a dependence of those reported having malaria with their house conditions their malaria preventive practices. Results were discussed also compared statistically against those obtained 17 years ago from the same area. RESULTS: Most households had 2 5 people (73.6%), 91.6% of houses had 1 3 bedrooms. The physical structure of the houses consisted of walls mainly made of block or brick 72.3%, the floor made of cement 90.0%, while the roof made of zinc sheet 43.9%, straw or palm 42.2%. A 23.1% of the interviewed completed elementary school 16.6% was illiterate. A 9.9% of the residents reported at least one family member having had malaria. A 98.1% of families used some method to prevent mosquito bites; those using bed nets were 94.3%. Almost 72% of families bought products for mosquito protection. A total of 537 out of 542 families agreed with the indoor residual spraying (IRS) of insecticide a frequency of application as often as every two months was preferred. CONCLUSION: Housing conditions malaria preventive practices have improved in these rural areas in 17 years, which could be in favor of malaria elimination in this area. Information generated by this study could help in the decision making about whether to use insecticide as indoor residual spraying or to implement massive distribution of long lasting impregnated bed nets, considering the number of bedrooms the structure of houses in the region, which may lead to a more efficient vector control for the coastal plain of Chiapas