Table 3 Comparison of household and individual level demographics, knowledge, and attitudes about malaria and bed nets by highland and lowland sites
Characteristic | Highland (n = 1923) | Lowland (n = 1332) |
|---|---|---|
Demographics | ||
 Children under five in household | 1026 (53 %) | 323 (25 %) |
 Pregnant woman in household | 107 (11 %) | 163 (12 %) |
 Female household head education level | ||
  No school | 211 (11 %) | 170 (13 %) |
  Primary | 1107 (58 %) | 601 (45 %) |
  Secondary | 505 (27 %) | 446 (34 %) |
  More than secondary | 90 (5 %) | 115 (9 %) |
 Durable good ownership | ||
  Radio | 1620 (84 %) | 1019 (77 %) |
  Stove | 124 (7 %) | 169 (13 %) |
  TV | 367 (19 %) | 443 (33 %) |
  Indoor lighting | 54 (3 %) | 149 (11 %) |
  Bike | 298 (16 %) | 709 (53 %) |
  Sofa set | 795 (41 %) | 626 (47 %) |
  Bed set | 1652 (86 %) | 1240 (93 %) |
 Wealth group | ||
  Very low | 906 (47 %) | 340 (25 %) |
  Low | 390 (20 %) | 120 (9 %) |
  Medium | 292 (15 %) | 407 (31 %) |
  High | 332 (17 %) | 465 (35 %) |
Basic malaria knowledge | ||
 Malaria transmitted by mosquitoes | 1910 (99 %) | 1319 (99 %) |
 Fever a symptom of malaria | 1845 (96 %) | 1320 (99 %) |
 Malaria prevented by bed nets | 1876 (98 %) | 1322 (99 %) |
Attitudes about malaria | ||
 Family at risk of malaria | 1871 (97 %) | 1274 (96 %) |
 Malaria is serious | 1751 (91 %) | 1233 (93 %) |
 Children are more at risk than adults | 1632 (85 %) | 877 (66 %) |
 People in my community concerned about malaria | 1881 (98 %) | 1267 (95 %) |
Malaria history | ||
 Known someone who died of malaria | 1025 (53 %) | 777 (58 %) |
 Known someone with severe complications of malaria | 687 (37 %) | 537 (41 %) |
 Known someone who had long-term sequaelae from malaria | 167 (9 %) | 128 (10 %) |
Attitude towards bed nets as a prevention strategy | ||
 Community believes bed nets are good way to prevent malaria | 1797 (94 %) | 1311 (98 %) |
 Community rather buy other things than bed net | 425 (22 %) | 161 (12 %) |
 Community thinks bed nets purchased better than free | 308 (16 %) | 252 (19 %) |
 Householder believes bed net is beneficial | 1809 (94 %) | 1317 (99 %) |
 Bed nets are a good way to prevent malaria | 1667 (87 %) | 1295 (97 %) |
 Householder believes bed nets bought are better than free | 258 (13 %) | 183 (14 %) |
Attitudes towards bed net access | ||
 Same chance of obtaining a bed net | 1618 (84 %) | 1167 (88 %) |
 Bed net is easy to get | 474 (25 %) | 594 (45 %) |
 Could not afford a bed net if had to pay | 632 (33 %) | 219 (16 %) |
Attitudes towards bed net use | ||
 People in community only use during rainy season | 335 (17 %) | 28 (2 %) |
 Householder only uses during rainy season | 171 (9 %) | 29 (2 %) |
 No use using a net, I will get malaria anyway | 235 (12 %) | 32 (2 %) |
 Using malaria drugs is easier than using bed net | 284 (15 %) | 154 (12 %) |
 Using a bed net is difficult | 241 (13 %) | 36 (3 %) |