A survey on knowledge,attitude and health behavior of kahnujian rural women concerning malaria in 1997

  Currently the control policy of malaria is based on the patient,s treatment,killing of the larvae and application of insecticides, whereas the important factors such as knowledge , attitude and health behaviour have been mostly ignored. This study was carried out to determine. Knowledge, attitude and health behaviour of 517 women in rural areas of Kahnujian city. The subjects were selected by multi-stage random sampling and data from them were collected  by filling in questionnaire during face to face inter view. The results showed that the women,s scores on knowledge and attitude were 38.1℅ (X=15.2, SD=2.1) and about 83℅ (X=62.2, SD=6.3) respectively. The mean score for knowledge was significantly higher in women with more education (p<0.003). Concerning the health behaviour, the result indicated that 30℅ of the responders used bednet and only 3℅ of them covered their windows with small size wire grids. However , the other common methods for protection and prevention were rarely used by the subjects. Our results suggest that in order to prevent and control malaria the common measure ( including the treatment of the patients and application of insecticides, etc.) Should not only be applied but also methods such as improving the health behaviour, knowledge, attitude and contribution of people should  be considered.