@article{fdi:010066668,
  title = {"{T}azomoka is not a {P}roblem". {L}ocal perspectives on malaria, fever case management and bed net use in {M}adagascar},
  author = {{M}attern, {C}. and {P}ourette, {D}olores and {R}aboanary, {E}. and {K}esteman, {T}. and {P}iola, {P}. and {R}andrianarivelojosia, {M}. and {R}ogier, {C}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground {A}lthough its incidence has been decreasing during the last decade, malaria is still a major public health issue in {M}adagascar. {T}he use of {L}ong {L}asting {I}nsecticidal {N}ets ({LLIN}) remains a key malaria control intervention strategy in {M}adagascar, however, it encounters some obstacles. {T}he present study aimed to explore the local terminology related to malaria, information channels about malaria, attitude towards bed nets, and health care seeking practices in case of fever. {T}his article presents novel qualitative findings about malaria. {U}ntil now, no such data has been published for {M}adagascar. {M}ethods {A} comparative qualitative study was carried out at four sites in {M}adagascar, each differing by malaria epidemiology and socio-cultural background of the populations. {S}eventy-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with biomedical and traditional caregivers, and members of the local population. {I}n addition, observations of the living conditions and the uses of bed net were conducted. {R}esults {D}ue to the differences between local and biomedical perspectives on malaria, official messages did not have the expected impact on population in terms of prevention and care seeking behaviors. {R}ather, most information retained about malaria was spread through informal information circulation channels. {M}ost interviewees perceived malaria as a disease that is simple to treat. {T}azomoka ("mosquito fever"), the {M}alagasy biomedical word for malaria, was not used by populations. {T}azo ("fever") and tazomahery ("strong fever") were the terms more commonly used by members of the local population to refer to malaria related symptoms. {A}ccording to local perceptions in all areas, tazo and tazomahery were not caused by mosquitos. {E}ach of these symptoms required specific health recourse. {T}he usual fever management strategies consisted of self-medication or recourse to traditional and biomedical caregivers. {U}sage of bed nets was intermittent and was not directly linked to protection against malaria in the eyes of most {M}alagasy people. {C}onclusions {T}his article highlights the conflicting understanding of malaria between local perceptions and the biomedical establishment in {M}adagascar. {L}ocal perceptions of malaria present a holistic vision of the disease that includes various social and cultural dimensions, rather than reflecting one universal understanding, as in the biomedical image. {T}he consideration of this "holistic vision" and other socio-cultural aspects surrounding the understanding of malaria is essential in implementing successful control intervention strategies.},
  keywords = {{MADAGASCAR}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}los {O}ne},
  volume = {11},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {e0151068 [14 ]},
  ISSN = {1932-6203},
  year = {2016},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pone.0151068},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010066668},
}