Abstract
Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and mostly affects pregnant women and children under five years of age. It is among the leading cause of deaths in under five years of age with an approximate of 20 percent of all deaths in Kenya. The World Health Organization recommends the use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs) and Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) for prevention of malaria infection. Although several studies have analysed the accessibility, availability, ownership and utilization of ITNs by children less than five years of age, information on intra-household factors that influence utilization of ITNs by children less than five years of age is very limited. This study investigated the factors that influence use of ITNs and LLINs by children under five years across the country using the random utility model because of the nature of the outcomes which are discrete in nature. The regression results showed that age of household head, household size, gender of child and the head of the household, presence of fever, treatment of net since acquisition significantly affected use of ITNs. The study concludes that these factors hinder use of ITNs by children under five years and therefore presence of an ITN in a household may not guarantee utilisation. The study recommends that efforts be made to increase awareness on the importance of ensuring children under five years sleep under an ITN if reduction in morbidity and mortality in this age group is to be realised.
Highlights
Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and mostly affects pregnant women and children less than five years of age [1]
Six variables were found to be statistically significant: age of household head, presence of fever two weeks before the Kenya malaria indicator survey, household size, sex of household, gender of the child and if the net was ever treated since acquisition
A child having experienced fever two weeks before the commencement of the Kenya malaria indicator survey increases the ratio of probability of using Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) by 7.78 times as compared to those who never experienced fever
Summary
Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and mostly affects pregnant women and children less than five years of age [1]. In Kenya, malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality with more than 70 percent of the population at risk of the disease [3]. It is estimated that out of a population of 46 million Kenyans, 70% are at risk of Malaria infection [2]. In Kenya, the disease accounts for 3050 percent of all hospital outpatient attendance, 19 percent of all admissions to health facilities and 3-5 percent of inpatient deaths [5]. The disease is the main cause of mortality of children under five years (approximately 20 percent) and it is ranked second after HIV/AIDs in the socioeconomic burden of diseases in Kenya [2, 19]. The disease is considered as a health issue and a socio-economic burden by the Kenyan government and investment in its control should be a priority [5]
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