Objective: To assess peoples' perceptions and knowledge about malaria transmission and control with special reference to the use of plants as mosquito repellents.
Design: Cross sectional study.
Setting: Mandeya ward "A" (33 degrees E and 18 degrees 30' S), Honde Valley, Zimbabwe.
Subjects: 226 household heads present when interview was conducted.
Main outcome measures: Mosquito control methods, spraying coverage, plants used to repel mosquitoes and reasons for using them.
Results: 215 (95.0%) of the respondents' homes had been sprayed and their understanding of malaria transmission was not related to compliance with the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP). Taking mosquito control measures was related to knowledge of malaria transmission, with 24 (75.0%) of those who did not know, taking no measures of their own. The use of plants was mentioned by 50 (23.5%) of the respondents and the reasons given were that they were cheap 43 (86.0%), effective five (10.0%) and locally available two (4.0%). The plant which was mentioned as being used by all age groups was L. javanica 25 (50.0%) and the other plants were used to a lesser extent. Forty six (92.0%) of the people said that they had used plants for mosquito control. The leafy part of the plant was used by 43 (86.0%) and a fresh preparation 43 (86.2%) gave better protection than a dry one. The plants were crushed and applied on the skin by eight people (14.6%), burnt by 36 people (72.8%) and used in their original form by six people (12.6%) and used once per by day 42 people (84.0%).
Conclusions: One of the important points to emerge from this study is that, despite widespread knowledge about the morbidity of malaria, understanding about its prevention was generally low and this has negative implications on an integrated control programme.