Assessment of the Status of Awareness, Ownership, and Usage of Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets after Mass Distribution in Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Adetunji Omonijo,Adejumoke O Omonijo

doi:10.1155/2019/1273714

Abstract

Vector control with long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) has been identified as a major component of malaria prevention and control. The study examined present status of awareness, ownership, and utilization of LLINs in malaria high-risk areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Data were obtained from 352 copies of semistructured interviewer-guided questionnaire distributed to participants of each household in the four Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ekiti State, where malaria is endemic after mass distribution of LLINs. Findings in this study showed that awareness was high (91.8%) in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) with mass media contributing largely (44.3%) to awareness. Also, LLINs ownership was found to be high (71.3%) with 72.9% of the nets being supplied by the government. Of the owners of LLINs, usage rate was observed to be 67.6%. Multivariate analysis result showed that statistically significant sociodemographic characteristics of respondents predicting the usage of LLINs included age greater than 50 years (p value = 0.008), female gender (χ2 = 8.2014, p value = 0.004), being married (χ2 = 24.721, p value <0.001), civil servants (χ2 = 12.739, p value = 0.005), and average income above poverty line (χ2 = 13.576, p value = 0.004). The study concluded that although not all households surveyed owned LLINs, nevertheless, the level of usage of LLINs among net-owning households was high. The study recommended continuous free distribution, periodic household survey, and expanding public knowledge on the benefits of LLINs usage especially through social media.

Highlights

Malaria remains a horrendous disease constituting a global burden
Evaluation of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) success over years has resulted in treatment modification of nets due to the development of insecticide-resistance by malaria vectors, thereby leading to pyrethroid-PBO nets being given an interim endorsement as a new WHO class of vector control products [3]
Majority (52.2%) of those who slept under LLINs earned a monthly income ≥$57

Summary

Introduction

Malaria remains a horrendous disease constituting a global burden. Synergetic efforts through vector surveillance approach, educational campaigns, and wide distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have successfully reduced malaria burden in endemic regions. Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have played an important role in reducing the global malaria burden since 2000 [5]. Evaluation of LLINs success over years has resulted in treatment modification of nets due to the development of insecticide-resistance by malaria vectors, thereby leading to pyrethroid-PBO nets being given an interim endorsement as a new WHO class of vector control products [3]. LLINs are a key tool used widely by people at risk of malaria, some communities have not been able to translate the available malaria control interventions to effective opportunities to curtail the disease. There is evidence that relatively few people in endemic regions access and use LLINs (Ibor et al, 2012)

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