Epidemiological Survey on the Utilization of Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets in Malaria Control among Gyadi-Gyadi Communities in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Malaria causes an overwhelmingly large number of cases and deaths round the globe every year. Insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITNs) have raised a renewed interest to serve as tools for malaria control in Africa. This survey was, therefore, designed to provide information about the knowledge, attitude and experience of the community about malaria as a disease and its preventive methods, particularly acceptability, affordability and compliance to the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets, and factors influencing its possession and utilization of ITNs among Gyadi-Gyadi communities in Kano, Nigeria. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Gyadi-Gyadi from January, 2020 to February, 2020. Data was collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was performed to obtain the frequency distribution of the variables. Results: The result shows that 341 participants responded to the questionnaire. 64.5% of the respondents had heard about the mosquito net. 45% of the respondents in the survey reported the presence of at least one mosquito net in their households. 69.2% of the participants perceived fever, headache and chilling of the body as the main symptoms of malaria. Conclusion: The utilization of mosquito nets at the time of the study was very low. However, acceptability and willingness to use ITNs for malaria prevention was very high. It is recommended that communities should be strongly sensitized on the importance of ITNs for malaria control and the availability and affordability should be insured.