Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets: Assessment of the Awareness and Utilization of Them among Antenatal Clinic Attendees in Abakaliki, Southeast Nigeria.

Chidebe Christian Anikwe,Bartholomew Chukwunonye Okorochukwu,Johnson Akuma Obuna,Ifeyinwa Helen Anikwe,John Chiadikobi Irechukwu,Cyril Chijioke Ikeoha,Brown Nnamdi Ejikeme

doi:10.1155/2020/2984867

Abstract

Background The use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLITNs) is one of the effective strategies for the prevention of malaria, especially among pregnant women. Aim This study is aimed at assessing the awareness and utilization of LLITNs during pregnancy among antenatal clinic attendees at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional study among antenatal attendees at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. A semistructured questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information from the participants. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. Results The mean age of the women was 26.05 ± 5.76 years. About one-third (30%) of the respondents were nulliparous. Most of the respondents had at least a secondary education. More than ninety percent of the respondents had a good knowledge of malaria with 95.8% being aware of LLITNs. The main source of information was from hospitals (54.5%). The rate of utilization of LLITNs was 37.5%; however, consistent use was only reported by about a third of this proportion. The major reasons for not utilizing the nets include discomfort/heat and fear of the chemical content. Women with tertiary education were more likely to utilize mosquito nets during pregnancy compared with women with secondary or primary education. Women who live in rural areas (OR = 0.393 95% CI 0.602–0.073) were less likely to use LLITNs during pregnancy, while those who are aware of the aetiology of malaria (OR = 4.38 95% CI 0.983–19.591) were more likely to utilize LLITNs in pregnancy. Conclusion The level of awareness of LLITNs is high; however, its utilization was discouragingly low. Rural dwellers and those without appropriate knowledge of the aetiology of malaria were less likely to use LLITNs in pregnancy.

Highlights

Malaria is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, especially among pregnant women because of the associated maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality [1]
Most of the cases in 2016 were in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region (90%), followed by the WHO South-East Asia Region [2]. e WHO World Malaria Report of 2017 has demonstrated the enormity of the burden of malaria with an estimated 219 million cases of malaria occurring worldwide with an estimated 435,000 deaths from malaria globally, compared with 451,000 estimated deaths in 2016 and 607,000 in 2010 [3]. e burden of malaria is largely borne by Africa; Nigeria accounted for the highest proportion of cases globally (27%), followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (10%), India (6%), and Mozambique (4%) [2]
With the Abuja target of 2005 having elapsed and attainment of the 2010 time set by the World Health Assembly in 2005 for the 80% realization of coverage targets not reached in most states in Nigeria–(Figure 1) [29], a closer assessment of the factors that are pivotal to the realization of the target of Roll Back Malaria (RBM) is extremely important. is study is, aimed at determining the awareness and utilization of this evidence-based malaria preventive strategy among antenatal clinic attendees at the ALEX EKWUEME Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki

Summary

Introduction

Malaria is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, especially among pregnant women because of the associated maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality [1]. Different studies in sub-Saharan Africa have found increased awareness of the importance of LLITNs as one of the malaria preventive measures. Is increased awareness suggests that a lot of health education has taken place in sensitizing pregnant women to the importance of LLITNs as it is one of the key interventions in the prevention and control of malaria. Despite increased awareness amongst pregnant women, the utilization of LLITNs in sub-Saharan Africa is still low [20]. E Roll Back Malaria initiative recommended that by 2010 at least 80% of people at risk of malaria (including pregnant women) use insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) in areas with the stable transmission. With the Abuja target of 2005 having elapsed and attainment of the 2010 time set by the World Health Assembly in 2005 for the 80% realization of coverage targets not reached in most states in Nigeria–(Figure 1) [29], a closer assessment of the factors that are pivotal to the realization of the target of RBM is extremely important. is study is, aimed at determining the awareness and utilization of this evidence-based malaria preventive strategy among antenatal clinic attendees at the ALEX EKWUEME Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki

Materials and Methods

Results

Ethical Approval