NETMARK FORMATIVE QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN SENEGAL
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

STUDY FINDINGS:

General knowledge about malaria was good. The French term for malaria, "palu" or "paludisme" was widely recognized and respondents named symptoms of malaria that are generally consistent with biomedical definitions of the illness. Respondents considered malaria to be serious and had good general knowledge that children (but not necessarily children between 0-5) are vulnerable to a serious case of the illness. Awareness that pregnant women are especially vulnerable appeared somewhat lower. Almost everyone knew that mosquitoes cause malaria, but some thought there were other causes as well.

Mosquitoes were generally perceived as a major problem (but mainly during rainy season) and everyone, even in rural areas, used some commercial method of mosquito control (e.g., coils, aerosols). Use of traditional methods was also common. Respondents had both positive and negative perceptions of all mosquito control methods, including nets.

The main reasons respondents liked nets were that nets protect against mosquito bites and keep mosquitoes out (of the sleeping space). Baby net owners¹ also used these nets so that their infants would be protected against flies. Some respondents viewed nets as the best possible protection and only a few mentioned any disadvantages of nets. Among those who did, the main disadvantages mentioned were feeling trapped/imprisoned in the net, feeling hot, and the inconvenience of putting nets up and taking them down. Net owners were described as "knowledgeable" and vulnerable to malaria. Nets were perceived simultaneously as a luxury item and as a sign of poverty; some respondents called net owners "rich" but others called them "poor."

Most non-owners viewed nets as unnecessary, often because they used other commercial insect control products or because they did not think mosquitoes were especially prevalent in their area. Some wanted a net but said they could not afford one.

Net owners were found in almost all study sites, including rural ones. Baby net use also appears somewhat common, as baby-net owners were found in some sites. Nets were generally obtained from open-air markets in urban centers, and were mostly large (double- and king/family-size) and rectangular. Consumers preferred large nets and wanted them to come in a variety of shapes and colors. Conical nets were preferred for their ease of hanging, and rectangular nets were liked because they are roomier, familiar, and fit the shape of the bed. Consumers liked both dark and light colors.

Reported net prices varied widely. Consumers reported paying between US$2.85 and US$8.55 for double-size nets. Both fathers and mothers made the decision to buy nets and fathers often, but not always, made the purchase.

Nets were often used outdoors and were used mainly during the rainy and hot seasons. Most children under five in net-owning households slept under a net the prior night, as did two of the three pregnant women living in net-owning households.

Nets were reportedly washed at least once a month, typically with lye-based detergent and bleach and were hung in the sun to dry.

The concept of treating nets, while known to some respondents, was new to many. Two of the 15 adult-size net owners in this study had treated their nets and reported that the treatment made the net more effective. Consumers generally liked the idea of insecticide treated materials (ITNs), but were also concerned about the potential danger of insecticides, especially to children and pregnant women. However, consumers said they would feel better if assured by a range of credible sources, including the Ministry of Health and health personnel, that treatment products were safe.

1. Baby nets are very small, umbrella-shaped nets that stand alone and only fit an infant.

Ghana 2004 Household Survey
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