RESUMO
Three surveys related to the knowledge, attitude and practices of populations towards mosquitoes were conducted in Côte d'Ivoire. The first survey was undertaken in June 1994 in the city of Bouaké and the other two respectively in January 1996 and in June 1999 in the village of Kafiné. The surveys have revealed that whatever the environment, nuisance due to mosquitoes constitutes a great concern for the population of the villages. The majority of people interviewed in urban (94%), peri-urban (68%) zones and in Kafiné (94%) associates mosquito with malaria against 18% only in Kabolo. Furthermore, these surveys have allowed the inventory of methods of controlling mosquito currently used by the communities in both urban and rural areas. Generally mosquito coils as well as insect sprays are currently used because of their cheapness and their availability on the local market. in Bouaké, insect sprays (97% to 99%) are used as much as mosquito coils (87% to 98%). However, in Kafiné and Kabolo, insect sprays are only used by respectively 76% and 69% and the mosquito coils by respectively 68% and 71%. In urban zones, the insect sprays are more common than mosquito coils. On the contrary mosquito coils are currently used in villages due to their low price (40 to 50 FCFA) and their constant availability on the local market. Furthermore, local plants characterized by a repulsive essence are known by 48% and 75% of people interviewed respectively in the urban and peri-urban area of the city of Bouak6, by 74 % of the population of Kafiné and 73% of people living in Kabolo. In the last village 57% of people who were interviewed do not use any means of orotection due to financial reason; only 14% use mosquito coils and 20% use local plants with a repulsive essence. Mosquito net is known by the majority of people interviewed (82 - 98%) as an excellent means of orotection against mosquito bites. However only 27%, 13%, 26% and 5% of people respectively living in the urban and peri-urban areas of Bouaké and in the villages of Kafiné and Kabolo own their mosquito net. Its cost is the main reason for not using it as mentionned by 25% of people interviewed in the urban neighborhood, by 48% in the peri-urban areas, respectively 46% and 89% in the villages of Kafiné and Kabolo. Although its effectiveness has been proved by the communities, mosquito net still remains less common. Its price is relatively high (3500 - 5000 FCFA). It is not constantly available on the local market. Other socio-cultural factors such as local beliefs and taboos hinder the use of mosquito nets by the communities.
