Survey of Attitudes and Knowledge of Public Housing Residents Toward Cockroaches

Abstract

A survey of 648 public housing residents in Roanoke and Norfolk, Virginia; and Baltimore, Maryland, was conducted to determine their attitudes toward, and their knowledge of household cockroaches. The survey included questions concerning causes and control of cockroaches, the number and location of cockroach sightings, and amount of money spent on pesticides. The results of the survey show that the residents are concerned about cockroach infestations. Residents spent between 0.4% and 1.0% of their annual income on pesticides to supplement the pest control program provided by the individual housing authorities. Fifty-one percent of those questioned thought the major cause of cockroaches was food and/or filth, but ony 14% thought cleanliness was the best control measure. An additional 41% thought insecticides would best control cockroaches. Forty-seven percent of the residents considered seeing 2 cockroaches a problem. Among other findings of the survey were: significant x2 relationships between the number of cockroaches seen in 24 hours and the rating given to a cockroach control program, and whether residents perceived cockroaches as a serious problem, whether they thought cockroaches could be gotten rid of, and whether they purchased pesticides.