[Health education needs for malaria control in rural residents in Hai'an County].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the status of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) and health education needs for malaria prevention and treatment of rural residents in Hai'an County. METHODS: Hai'an County was divided into three regions of east, south and north, and the primary and secondary students and residents were selected with the multi-stage sampling method and investigated with questionnaire for the status of KAP and the health education needs of malaria control. The results were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The awareness rates of malaria transmission, symptoms, prevention knowledge in the residents were significantly higher than those in the students (P < 0.05). The awareness rates of malaria prevention knowledge in the residents had significant differences among the residents with different education levels (P < 0.05), and the education levels were positively correlated with the awareness rates of malaria prevention knowledge. The main ways of rural residents to get their knowledge of malaria control were radio, newspapers, the village doctors, public health bulletin, posters, students, and television caption in order; the main ways of students to get their knowledge of malaria control were television, newspapers, public health bulletin, teachers, radio, and flyers in order. CONCLUSIONS: We should pay full attention to the advantages of mass media to carry out the extensive health education on malaria prevention and control, and should also take into account the different characteristics of the audience.