Knowledge, attitude and practice about malaria among population working in mountainous areas from Dongfang city, Hainan province

Objective To examine the status of knowledge,attitude and practice(KAP) about malaria among population working in mountainous areas from Dongfang city of Hainan province and to provide baseline data for health education and behavior intervention on malaria.Methods A farm and a town with malaria cases during the last three years were randomly selected.A questionnaire survey on KAP about malaria was conducted among the inhabitants with history of working in mountainous area.Results Among the 379 inhabitants(181 men47.76%and 198 women52.24%at ages of 16 to 50 years) surveyed,77.48% knew the transmission route of malaria and 84.17% knew that repeated fever and chill were the common symptoms of malaria.There were significant differences in the usage rate of insecticide-treated mosquito net and the awareness of transmission and behavior of malaria prevention among the inhibitants of different age and education.The awareness rates of typical clinical manifestation of malaria show ed no significant difference among the inhibitants of different education level.Conclusion The KAP about malaria needs to be improved among the inhibitants of Dongfang city working in mountainous area and the education on risk factors of malaria is the keypoint among the inbihitants.