THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RESIDENT- BASED MOSQUITO CONTROL THROUGH CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOR ALONG A SOCIOECONOMIC GRADIENT

Abstract

Controlling mosquito abundances in urban landscapes requires management of water-holding containers by residents. We tested the hypothesis that print materials reduce human exposure to mosquitoes through improved resident knowledge and behaviors across urban landscapes. Households that varied in socio-economic status were administered knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) surveys in 2010 and 2012, and had their yards surveyed for container habitats in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Half of the households received education materials in 2011 and 2012. During the summer of 2013, larval and adult abundances were measured across four socioeconomically-diverse neighborhoods in Baltimore, MD. Our education intervention was insufficient to motivate residents to reduce containers. Source reduction was predicted by improvements in knowledge and education intervention. Overall adult abundances were heterogeneous across neighborhoods, and adult Aedes albopictus abundances were predicted by the infested container index. Future research needs to examine socio-ecological processes that may differentially affect immature vs. adult habitats.