There are several approaches that I might use in order to figure out why respondents are not using bednets, including:

Qualitative interviews: In the context of understanding why respondents are not using bednets for malaria prevention, conducting qualitative interviews with a sample of non-users could provide valuable insights into the specific barriers or facilitators that are impacting their decision not to use bednets.

During a qualitative interview, we will typically ask open-ended questions that allow the participant to share their thoughts and feelings in their own words. These interviews are usually conducted in a private setting and may be recorded for later transcription and analysis. We will likely have a list of topics to cover during the interview, but they should also be flexible and willing to explore new topics that come up during the conversation.

For example, in the context of bednet use, we might ask questions such as: “Can you tell me about a time when you did not use a bednet?” or “What are your thoughts and feelings about bednets?” These types of open-ended questions allow the participants to share their personal experiences and perspectives, which can provide valuable insights into the reasons why they are not using bednets.

Focus group discussions: In the context of bednet use, we could bring together a group of non-users to discuss their experiences and perceptions related to bednet use.
This method allows for a natural conversation to occur, and allows for us to observe the interactions and dynamics of the group. It provides a platform for non-users to share their experiences, concerns, and barriers to bednet use in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. Through this method, we could identify common themes among non-users and gain a deeper understanding of the reasons behind their lack of use of bednets. Additionally, we can also observe the non-verbal cues of the participants and the dynamics of the group, which may provide additional insights.

Follow-up surveys: Follow-up surveys involve conducting additional surveys with non-users after a certain period of time has passed. This approach allows us to track changes in bednet use over time, and identify factors that may have influenced the decision of non-users to start or continue not using bednets. For example, if a follow-up survey is conducted a few months after the initial survey, and non-users report starting to use bednets, we can investigate the reasons for this change. Follow-up surveys can be useful in identifying factors that may be associated with changes in bednet use over time such as access to information, socio-economic status and education level. Additionally, follow-up surveys can help us to understand how non-users may have been influenced by interventions or other efforts to increase bednet use.

Monitoring and evaluation data analysis: Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is an important aspect of understanding the effectiveness of any intervention, including the use of bednets for malaria prevention. M&E data can provide a wealth of information about the availability and accessibility of bednets, as well as their distribution coverage. This can give insight into potential barriers to bednet use. For example, if a survey shows that bednets are not available in certain areas, or if distribution coverage data shows that a large number of bednets are not being distributed to the target population, it can be inferred that the lack of availability of bednets is a barrier to bednet use in those areas. Furthermore, M&E data can also provide information about the effectiveness of distribution strategies, which can be used to improve the distribution and coverage of bednets in the future.

Literature review: In this case, the topic would be factors associated with bednet use in similar settings or populations. The purpose of conducting a systematic literature review is to gather information from existing research in order to identify patterns, themes and gaps in knowledge.

For example, if I were conducting a systematic literature review on bednet use in Myanmar, I would search for studies that have been conducted in the South-East Asia region and that have investigated factors associated with bednet use. I would then analyze these studies to identify common themes and patterns in the data. This could include identifying factors that have been consistently associated with bednet use or non-use in the region, as well as identifying gaps in knowledge where further research is needed.

By conducting a systematic literature review, I can gain a better understanding of the existing research on bednet use and identify potential barriers to bednet use in similar settings or populations. This can help inform the design and implementation of future interventions to promote bednet use and help prevent malaria.

The goal is to use a combination of methods, to triangulate data and find the root cause of non-compliance but as with most project, it will also depend on the budget, timeframe and primary research question of the project.