Post intervention assessment of long lasting insecticde nets (LLINs) distributed in Kano metropolis, Kano state, Nigeria

Abstract

Kano state hasdistributed about 4,137,464 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Net (LLINs) in2009 being one of the main malaria vector control strategy developed by theNigeria Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) which is in line with Roll BackMalaria. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of LLINsin use and to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of some net usersin Kano metropolis. The effectiveness of LLINs distributed in the year 2009 inKano metropolis in Kano State, Northern Nigeria was evaluated using a clustersample technique A Cone bioassay with laboratory reared Anopheles wereperformed. Knockdown after 60 minutes and mortality after 24 hours following 3minutes exposure were evaluated. A total of 210 households were administeredwith two hundred and five (205) respondents 97.6% indicated the knowledge aboutLLINs while five (5) respondents were not aware. Similarly, one hundred andninety- eight respondents (94.3%) strongly believed that the washing of LLINsdoes not reduce the preventive role of LLINs. Very high and consistentknockdown and mortality in all replicates was found. The outcome on the use ofLLINs reflects the effective use of LLINs among the respondents with twohundred and eight respondents (99%). Respondent still holds some reservation onthe use of LLINs, one hundred and five respondents (54.8%) believes it causesheat. It has been observed that the respondents reply does not rely mostly onLLINs despite by their believe in the efficacy of it rather, 41.4% of thepeople that participated in the research still resort to the use of spray and26.2% uses smoke to prevent mosquito bite. It can be concluded from the findings that respondents were fully awareof long lasting insecticide net and they agree that it is effective against thevector causing malaria parasite and other insects though some of them havereservation on the use of smoke and indoor residual spray to prevent mosquitoesbite. Considering that the nets are expected to be effective for three years ormore years, it is reasonable to conclude that the nets were effective inpreventing mosquito bites based on the knock-down and exposure mortalityresults.