Resumen

SOJO-MILANO, Mayira et al. Knowledge, practices and perceptions about malaria in Yaguaraparo parish, Sucre state, Venezuela, 2004. Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2008, vol.48, n.1, pp.61-71. ISSN 1690-4648.

Malaria knowledge results from what is learnt in social, group or individual experience. To explore the level of knowledge, practices, opinions and perceptions on local health and malaria (cause, diagnosis, prevention) in Yaguaraparo Parish, state of Sucre, Venezuela, a cross-sectional, naturalistic, qualitative and quantitative study was performed. A standardized open- and close-ended interview was applied to 123 participants approached randomly. Patterns gotten were quantified using percentages. 92.7% said his community had health problems and 88.8% first cited malaria, saying “paludismo”. For 68.3% the mosquito was the malaria cause and for 11.5% stagnant waters and rubbish. Malaria local diagnosis included fever (30%) and headache (21.2%). The first action before fever was “making the slide” (57.7%). 84.5% said malaria was cured with the official antimalarial drug. 77.2% considered malaria could be avoided, by means of “keeping clean both households and environment” (47.1%) and by using antimalarial drugs, as well as eliminating vectors (19.7% each). 86.2% declared they did not use a bednet. 43% said the insecticide used by the Malaria Service was not effective. 48.3% said the local health service was good and 93.2% declared that they to used it. These findings point out the need for introducing health communication strategies, focusing on malaria, vectors and the transmission mechanism, and building links between people and malaria control purposes.

Palabras clave : malaria; beliefs; knowledge; perceptions; practices.