142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

300252
Gender and other factors contributing to malaria incidence, insecticide treated bed net use, and malaria treatment behavior: A survey-based exploration in Southeastern Kenya

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Troy Curtis, BA , College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Rockford, Rockford, IL
Araceli Alonso, PhD , Department of Gender and Women's Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Deborah Lischwe, MS , Division of Health Policy and Social Science Research, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL
Numerous studies have established the effectiveness of insecticide treated bed nets (ITNs) in preventing infection with the malaria parasite. Less explored is the influence that gender has on the distribution and utilization of ITNs as well as the effect that gender has on the malaria treatment decision-making process.  In order to investigate this topic, a survey was administered to 243 patients at Lunga Lunga District Health Center in Southeastern Kenya in Summer 2013. The survey included questions about demographics, net ownership and use, mosquito exposure, and treatment behaviors. The results were analyzed using multivariate correlation and chi-square statistical analysis. Preliminary results show that while there are no significant gender differences in malaria incidence or bed net use, statistically significant associations do exist between gender and the number of hours spent outside each day (a surrogate measure of malaria exposure), the method of diagnosis, who in the household makes decisions regarding treatment for malaria, and who in the household pays for treatment. The findings support the hypothesis that women likely have decreased autonomy regarding their healthcare, and that men may have greater exposure to mosquitoes due to differences in lifestyle.  By incorporating a gender-sensitive analysis into policy development about malaria prevention and treatment this information may help to decrease malaria morbidity and mortality.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Assess the effect of gender and other individual characteristics on the use of insecticide treated nets in rural Kenya Identify how differences in lifestyles between genders influence the pattern of exposure to malaria Evaluate the impact that gender has on the malaria treatment decision-making process

Keyword(s): Gender, Treatment Patterns

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently attending medical school and completing my master of public health degree. I have a strong interest in global health and during my academic career I have completed multiple projects while traveling abroad. My co-authors have many years of experience completing population-based research and women empowerment programs both domestically and in Kenya.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.