Abstract

To assess the effectiveness and misuse status of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs), intervention, a study was conducted in areas of malaria and lymphatic filariasis endemicity from November 2021 to August 2022. A preliminary survey preceded a cross-sectional survey of the misuse of LLINs. Considering the outcome of the former, 57 households misusing LLINs were reported. Thirty (30) cohorts each from LLIN misusing and LLIN non misusing households served as permanent cohorts for mosquito collections (60 rooms in 60 households in 3 sentinel villages). The study also investigated the status of LLIN usage and non usage. Mosquitoes caught with Aspirators and Pyrethrum Knockdown (PKD) techniques were identified using standard morphological keys. Among those who used LLIN, 68.42% used it for other purposes than vector control while 31.58% didn’t utilize it for mosquito control. About 59.65% didn’t know the effect of using it for purposes other than malaria/LF control while 40.35% were familiar. Of 8,180 endophilic mosquitoes caught and assessed for parity, infection/infectivity status, 60.07% (4,914/8,180) and 39.93% (3,266/8,180) represented LLIN misusing and LLIN non-misusing catches respectively. Overall, insignificantly higher catches were made in LLIN misusing cohorts than LLIN non misusing cohorts (63.54% versus 36.45%, 58.89% versus 41.11%, 58.86% versus 41.18%) for 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively. Specifically, malaria/LF vector densities showed that Anopheles gambiae s.l. (82.53% versus 74.04%) was the highest followed by An. funestus s.l. (10.15% versus 12.19%) and Culex quinquefasciatus (6.82% versus 3.83%) while other species were rarely present. The physiological, infection (0.28% versus 0.49%) and infectivity (0.00% versus 0.00%) statuses with Wuchereria bancrofti were insignificant between the cohorts (p>0.05). None of the Anopheles assessed for Plasmodium sporozoite were positive for both cohorts. The percentage level of LLIN household use was 43.33% while 41.03% slept under LLIN daily, 58.97% slept sometimes. Obstacles to LLIN use included hot/heat (56.86%), dislike (21.57%), lack of protection (11.86%) and ineffectiveness (9.80%). The role of significant misuse of LLIN was highlighted by the study. The results indicated the intensity of filariasis transmission by transmitting vectors was higher than that of malaria and re-emphasis the need to promote positive attitude towards the use of LLIN for control of the two diseases.

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