Household Long-Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) Ownership, Use, and Perceptions among a Community Living in the Malaria Epidemic Zone of Nandi County, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Malaria remains a major public health challenge worldwide with most malaria illnesses and deaths being caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Mass distribution of long-lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) has been prioritised as a critical control measure for malaria in endemic countries. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine household LLINs ownership, use, and perceptions in a malaria epidemic zone of Nandi County, Kenya. A structured questionnaire was administered by trained interviewers to selected households in the area after obtaining consent from the household heads. Results: A total of 383 households were included in the study. Of the 383 households, 95% (95% CI: 92.9-97.2%) had at least one-bed net in use with each household having an average of 3-bed nets. Of these, 99.5% (95% CI: 98.1-99.7%) were hanged at the sleeping place. 79.5% (95% CI: 75.1-83.3%) of the hanged nets were in good condition (no holes), while 17.1% (95% CI: 13.3-20.9%) had holes. The majority of the LLINs were obtained from the mass net distribution either at home 31.7% (95% CI: 27.4-36.3%) or at the health facility 63.2% (95% CI: 58.5-67.8%). Conclusion: The study recorded a high level of household LLINs ownership and the use in the community, which points to the success of the free mass net distribution campaign in the area