Abstract:

Background: Community resistance and misconceptions about indoor residual spraying (IRS) still exist and that practices for the control of malaria using IRS have been unsatisfactory. The main objective of this study was to determine the community level of awareness, knowledge, attitude and practices towards IRS for malaria control and exploring factors related with its uptake.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which interviewed household heads in Ijitu village-Magu district (Northwest Tanzania).

Results: The study recruited a total of 491 household heads. About 76.8% (377) of them were aware of IRS. Among those who were aware of IRS, 169 (44.8%) were knowledgeable, 87% (328) had positive attitudes towards IRS and 72.3% (355) accepted their houses to be sprayed. Among the 355 who sprayed, 65% (233) recognized the benefit of IRS. Among those who were aware of IRS, 17% (63) did not spray and reasons for not accepting IRS about 60% (38) of them reported was due to lack of enough information and education provided and the reason that IRS does not reduce mosquitoes and other indoor insects. Washing and replastering the house walls were among the changes or actions done after the spraying exercise.

Conclusion: Community level of awareness about IRS was high while level of knowledge was low. The household heads had mixed perceptions on IRS. Uptake of IRS of 72.3% was below the WHO recommendations of >80%. Low level of education and knowledge were found to be major factors related with low uptake of IRS. The National and local health authorities should therefore help to increase community knowledge and understanding of the function of indoor residual spraying and address concerns about perceived negative effects of IRS.