Usage pattern and socio-demographic determinants of personal protection measures against mosquitoes in rural area of district Jhansi of India

Abstract

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) constitute an important cause of morbidity and mortality .So MBDs are important public health problems. Personal protective measures (PPM) are an effective tool in control of mosquito-borne diseases. In present study an attempt has been made to study the prevalence, reasons for the usage / non usage of personal protective measures and also identify the pattern of usage and their association with socio-demographic variables. A cross sectional study was conducted during April to June 2014 among rural area of Jhansi. A total of 100 families were selected for this study by systematic random sampling. For data collection house to house survey was done using a semi structured pretested questionnaire. The results were analyzed using Epi Info 7. Chi-square test was used for qualitative variables to find association. Most of (90%) families were actually using at least one personal protection measure against mosquitoes. Among the study population the reasons for preference of their own methods were convenience of the method followed by cost. 67% were using the personal protective method daily. Statistically significant association was observed between the pattern of usage and socio economic status, type of house. This attitude should be changed by appropriate health education.