[Knowledge of malaria and long-lasting insecticidal net use practices in two departments of colombia].

Objectives: To determine the knowledge about malaria and use practice of insecticide-treated mosquito nets in the departments of Antioquia and Chocó in Colombia, 2013.

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional and descriptive study with probability sampling of clusters, stratified and two-staged. The head of household survey was developed using ten questions on knowledge, transmission, symptoms and preventive measures against malaria, used in the questionnaires of the 2007 National Health Survey in Colombia, as well as 13 questions on long-lasting insecticidal nets, tenure, use, reasons for non-use, short-term health side effects, washing and drying.

Results: 2078 residents responded to the survey. 89% (95% CI: 87.5-89.9) in Antioquia and 94% (95% CI: 93.0-94.0) in Chocó recognized the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention methods. In Antioquia, 86% (95% CI: 84.9-87.3) had at least one mosquito net and 72% (95% CI: 70.0-73.4) used it daily; and for the department of Chocó, it was 93% (95% CI: 92.2-94.4) and 73% (95% CI: 72.0-74.4), respectively.

Conclusions: There are high levels of knowledge about malaria; however, the care of the mosquito nets does not follow the recommendations to increase their useful life, therefore, specific social strategies are required for each department.