<?xml version="1.0"?>
<Articles JournalTitle="Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases">
  <Article>
    <Journal>
      <PublisherName>Tehran University of Medical Sciences</PublisherName>
      <JournalTitle>Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases</JournalTitle>
      <Issn>2322-1984</Issn>
      <Volume>17</Volume>
      <Issue>4</Issue>
      <PubDate PubStatus="epublish">
        <Year>2024</Year>
        <Month>03</Month>
        <Day>17</Day>
      </PubDate>
    </Journal>
    <title locale="en_US">Knowledge and Practices of Women Regarding Malaria and Its Prevention: A Community-Based Study in an Area under Malaria Elimination Programme in Iran</title>
    <FirstPage>1502</FirstPage>
    <LastPage>1502</LastPage>
    <AuthorList>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Mehdi</FirstName>
        <LastName>Zare</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sci&#xAC;ences, Bandar Abbas, Iran</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Hassan</FirstName>
        <LastName>Vatandoost</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,   Department of Chemical Pollutants and Pesticides, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Mussa</FirstName>
        <LastName>Soleimani-Ahmadi</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Faculty of Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran,   Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Alireza</FirstName>
        <LastName>Sanei-Dehkordi</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Faculty of Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Seyed Aghil</FirstName>
        <LastName>Jaberhashemi</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Bashagard Health Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bashagard, Iran</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Shokrollah</FirstName>
        <LastName>Mohseni</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran</affiliation>
      </Author>
    </AuthorList>
    <History>
      <PubDate PubStatus="received">
        <Year>2021</Year>
        <Month>10</Month>
        <Day>20</Day>
      </PubDate>
      <PubDate PubStatus="accepted">
        <Year>2023</Year>
        <Month>11</Month>
        <Day>19</Day>
      </PubDate>
    </History>
    <abstract locale="en_US">Background: Indoor residual spraying (IRS) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are two core interventions for control and prevention of malaria infection. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to determine the knowledge and practices of women regarding malaria and its preventive measures&#xA0;in a malarious area in the Jask County, southeast of Iran.
Methods: Data was collected from 400 households through a two-stage random cluster sampling method in six villages. Pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. During the survey, visual observations were also made by the interviewers to check use of LLINs and IRS. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21.
Results: The majority of households had a high level of knowledge about symptoms (98%, n=392) and transmission (74.5%, n=298) of malaria. The main preventive measures against malaria were: LLINS (39.5%, n=158), IRS (32%, n=128), and screens on doors/windows (16.7%, n=67). In addition, participants with primary or higher educational level reported that they practice more malaria preventive measures, compared to those who were illiterate (OR=3.3, 95% CI= 1.6&#x2013;6.6, p=0.0001, Table 6). In spite of positive perceptions about IRS and LLINs, only 35.5% (n=142) and 17% (n=68) of households used IRS and LLINs, respectively.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, despite a high level of knowledge about malaria and its preventive measures, a small number of participants use LLINs and IRS for malaria prevention.&#xA0;Therefore, implementation of ef&#xAD;fective educational interventions is recommended to improve preventive practices against malaria in the study area.</abstract>
    <web_url>https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/1502</web_url>
    <pdf_url>https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/1502/644</pdf_url>
  </Article>
</Articles>
