author(s)
Ladslaus L Mnyone and Baraka Mwamundela

abstract
Understanding area-specific knowledge, attitudes, practices and demographic risk factors towards malaria is critical for designing appropriate awareness and control strategies. We assessed those parameters in 243 randomly selected households in eastern Tanzania using a standard questionnaire and direct observations. Fifty-three percent of respondents cited that Anopheles mosquitoes were responsible for transmitting malaria, and 85% of those explicitly cited female Anopheles. Mentioned mosquito breeding sites were water bodies (75%) and rubbish (24%). Majority (61%) knew that under-fives were most vulnerable to malaria. ITNs were mostly (64%) cited as a means of malaria control. Commonly cited mosquito entry routes were windows (46%), eave opening (10%) and opening on walls (4%). Most respondents (70%) reported that they confirmed malaria at the health facilities. Most respondents (96%) preferred modern antimalarials. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents owned at least one ITN. Cooking was done predominantly (77%) outdoors, finished cooking and went to bed after 20:00h. Most respondents (58%) attended night-time outdoor communal gatherings. These findings provide a good premise for designing appropriate awareness and control strategies in study areas and possibly beyond. Furthermore, these findings warrant studies to show a causal link between the documented demographic risk factors, vector biting patterns and malaria prevalence.