Kenya (2013): Pretest of Malaria Communication Campaign

Malaria remains a public health problem in Kenya. One of the key strategies in addressing Malaria is in the use of nets. Recent efforts that have been put in place to ensure Kenyans have access to nets include routine distribution of nets to pregnant women and children under the age of 1 and the mass net distribution campaign exercise which availed nets to households in Malaria areas in Kenya. This exercise increased net ownership from 52% to 83%. Net use however has lagged behind with vulnerable populations comprising of children under five being as low as 25% and pregnant women at 52%. This is below the country'™s target of having 80% of Kenyans living in Malarial Regions areas sleeping under a net. The decrease in net use amongst children under the age of five facilitated the need to undertake a qualitative study to understand factors that influence net use amongst this age group in Kenya. Results from the qualitative study indicated that the target audience does not consistently sleep under a net throughout the year because they feel that they are not at risk especially during the dry season when in fact they are at risk throughout the year. Previous national malaria campaigns like the 'Mbu Nje sisi ndani' campaigns have addressed risk and focused on increasing awareness that everyone is at risk throughout the year, but findings from the qualitative survey indicated that there is need to go back to basics and change this strongly held belief that they are not at risk of malaria especially during the dry season. Therefore, this new campaign will seek to address basics facts around malaria transmission in both rainy and dry seasons.