Utilization Of Insecticide Treated Nets Research Articles

Under utilization of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) is challenging malaria elimination program in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundMalaria is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries including Ethiopia. Mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spray for high malaria risk groups are the major prevention measures in different countries. Achievement of the malaria elimination plan is highly determined by the level of effective utilization of intervention measures. However, there is scarce information showing the national level of insecticide-treated nets utilization.ObjectiveTo estimate the pooled prevalence of insecticide-treated nets utilization in Ethiopia, 2023.MethodA Systematic Review and Meta-analysis employed to assess the utilization of long-lasting insecticidal nets in Ethiopia. Published articles were searched from Google Scholar, PubMed, Web Sciences, CINAHIL, EMBASE, and Scopus. The collected articles were screened for data extraction and further analysis using preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) flow chart. The quality of each study was assessed using the Jonna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. The data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA version 17.0 for analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of long-lasting insecticidal nets utilization was determined using a random effects model.ResultOut of 1657 articles reviewed, only 21 of them were eligible for final analysis. All of the included studies were used to estimate the pooled prevalence of long-lasting insecticidal net utilization. The point prevalence of LLIN utilization ranged from 14.23 to 91.9%. The Meta-analysis estimated that the overall pooled prevalence of insecticidal nets utilization among all study participants in Ethiopia was 56.26% (95%CI: 44.04–68.48%). Subgroup analysis revealed that insecticidal nets utilization was relatively highest in the Amhara region [63.0, 95%CI (37.0–89.0%)] and during 2020–2023 [61, 95% CI (53.0–69.0%)].ConclusionLong-lasting insecticidal nets utilization in Ethiopia is lower than the national target plan. Hence, it needs extra follow-up and intervention to enhance its utilization.

Insecticide Treated Nets Utilization and Associated Factors Among Under 5 Children and Pregnant Women in Hawwa Gelan Woreda, Kellem Wollega Zone

Insecticide Treated Nets Utilization and Associated Factors Among Under 5 Children and Pregnant Women in Hawwa Gelan Woreda, Kellem Wollega Zone

Utilisation of Insecticide-treated Net and its Associating Factors in the Prevention of Malaria Among Pregnant Women Attending a Nigerian Antenatal Clinic

Background: Malaria in pregnancy is a significant threat to the mother and the unborn child. The World Health Organisation recommends insecticide-treated nets as a long-lasting solution to malaria. Evidence has shown its effectiveness if used. To assess the utilization of insecticide-treated nets in the prevention of malaria among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital.
 Methods: This is a quantitative study using a descriptive research design and a sample size of 333 statistically estimated. Participants are pregnant women attending antenatal clinics selected through a simple random sampling technique. A self-designed structured questionnaire of 37 items initially piloted to ensure reliability was used to elicit responses from the participants.
 Result: 95.8% of the participants demonstrated knowledge and evidence of ownership of insecticide-treated net. 98.3% also showed a high level of knowledge about malaria and the possible damage it causes during pregnancy. Most of them identified healthcare workers as the major source of this knowledge. Despite this level of knowledge and ownership of insecticide-treated nets, 33% of the participants use them every day. Some of the factors identified by the participants as responsible for this low utilization include discomfort when sleeping under ITN (56%), unavailability of ITN (55%), and heat generated by ITN (70%).
 Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest a low utilization of insecticide-treated nets among pregnant women despite the effort of healthcare workers in empowering them with knowledge and the net. Most of the factors identified were related to the comfort of using the net. It is therefore recommended that makers of the insecticide-treated net should improve their product by considering the factors that discourage its use. Organisations should provide insecticide-treated nets to pregnant women who may not have had it.

Insecticide-treated net utilization and associated factors among pregnant women in East Africa: evidence from the recent national demographic and health surveys, 2011–2022

BackgroundThe pregnant woman, the fetus, and the newborn child are all at risk from malaria infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Employing insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) is one of the most efficient methods for avoiding malaria among expectant mothers. However, there is no literature that describes ITN use among pregnant women in East Africa or the contributing factors. Therefore, this study sought to identify the factors affecting pregnant women’s ITN utilization in East Africa.MethodsThe most recent DHS (Demographic and Health Survey) data for the 11 East African countries from 2011 to 2022 was used. 13,729 pregnant women were examined. To identify factors associated with ITN use, a binary and multiple logistic regression model was built. Variables having a p-value of less than or equal to 0.2 in the binary logistic regression analysis were taken into consideration for the multivariable analysis. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, the adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) with the 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was provided to proclaim the statistical significance and degree of correlation.ResultsThe survey found that just 47.05% (95% CI 46.21, 47.88) of pregnant mothers reported using ITNs. The highest and lowest values were seen in Uganda (64.13%) and Zimbabwe (6.08%). Women age 25-34y (aOR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.11, 1.29), 35–49y (aOR = 1.26; 95% CI 1.13, 1.41) as compared to 15–24 years, poorer (aOR = 1.15; 95% CI 1.04–1.27), middle (aOR = 1.21; 95% CI 1.09, 1.35), and rich (aOR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.06, 1.31) wealth indexes as compared to poorest, having > 5 family size (AOR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.78, 0.91) primary (aOR = 1.49; 95% CI 1.36, 1.65), and secondary/higher education (aOR = 1.52; 95% CI 1.35, 1.70) as compared to not educated, and married women (aOR = 1.64; 95% CI 1.44, 1.86) have shown a statistically significant association with ITN utilization among pregnant women.ConclusionWith a variety of risk variables, including age, wealth, family size, and education, pregnant women in East Africa rarely use ITNs. There is a need to create and strengthen malaria prevention programmes, especially among pregnant women who do not use ITNs, based on the variables mentioned.

Insecticide-treated net utilization and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Malaria is a major public health problem in many developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The pregnant woman, fetus, and newborn infant are all at risk from malaria during pregnancy. Hence, insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) use is the most effective and advisable method for preventing malaria during pregnancy. Studies on the prevalence of ITN utilization among pregnant women in Ethiopia are inconsistently reported and highly varied. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of ITN utilization and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia. A comprehensive search of databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Science Direct, Google, and Google Scholar was performed to find studies conducted in Ethiopia. All original observational studies that reported the prevalence of ITN utilization were identified and screened. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale tool was used to assess the quality of the studies. Data were extracted in Microsoft Excel 2010 format and analyzed using STATA Version 14. A random-effect meta-analysis model was utilized to estimate the pooled prevalence of ITN utilization. The statistical heterogeneity was checked using the I2 test and subgroup analysis. The publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's regression test. The size of the pooled effect of the factors influencing the use of ITNs was estimated using an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and a P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Twenty-nine cross-sectional studies with 13,957 study participants were included in this meta-analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of ITN utilization among pregnant women in Ethiopia was 51% (95% CI: 43-60). A statistically significant heterogeneity was observed across studies (I2 = 99.09%; P < 0.001). Being literate [OR = 2.93 (95% CI: 2.14-4.01)], rural residence [OR = 1.76 (95% CI: 1.37-2.26)], and having knowledge of ITN [OR = 4.13 (95% CI: 1.57-10.81)] were factors significantly associated with ITN utilization among pregnant women. The utilization of ITNs among pregnant women was substantially lower than the national target, alarmingly highlighting the need for urgent and effective interventions. Maternal education status, place of residence, and knowledge of ITNs were independent predictors of ITN utilization. Health policymakers and programmers should design and implement the most effective strategies to scale up the utilization of ITNs by pregnant women and reduce malaria-related morbidity during pregnancy. CRD42022304432.

Factors influencing utilisation of insecticide treated nets among children under-five years of age in Kpone-On-Sea in the Kpone Katamanso District in Ghana

Children under-five years of age are among the vulnerable group mostly affected by morbidity and mortality due to malaria. Insecticide treated nets (ITNs) have proved to be effective in reducing malaria transmission and increasing child survival. Significant investment into scaling up of ITNs has been done but achieving actual utilisation among beneficiaries is still a challenge in malaria endemic regions including Ghana. The study aimed to assess factors influencing utilisation of ITNs among children under-five years in Kpone-On-Sea in Ghana. We used a cross-sectional community survey design to determine the proportion of children under-five years of age sleeping under ITNs and factors influencing utilisation of ITNs among care-givers in Kpone-On-Sea. We randomly sampled 325 care-givers of children under-five years between March and June 2017. Microsoft Excel version 2016 and SPSS were used for data entry and analysis, and further analysis was conducted using STATA version 14 software. Chi-square test was used to test for associations and multiple logistic regression to determine strength of associations. We found that the proportion of children under-five years sleeping under ITNs was 91%. Factors associated with ITN utilisation among children under-five years included caregivers’ level of education (p&lt;0.01), their awareness that children under-five years are most at risk of malaria (P&lt;0.05), knowledge that ITN protect against mosquito bite (P&lt;0.02), knowledge on the importance of ITNs in preventing malaria (P&lt;0.01), ITN ownership (P&lt;0.03), type of ITN owned (p&lt;0.02) and the period within which caregivers utilise ITN (P&lt;0.00). We also found high ownership of ITNs among caregivers, and no difference between caregivers’ knowledge on malaria and its prevention. These data improved the current knowledge of ITNs utilisation among caregivers of children under-five years and offer opportunities to conduct further studies in other regions of Ghana.

Prevalence and predictors of asymptomatic malaria infection in Boricha District, Sidama Region, Ethiopia: implications for elimination strategies

BackgroundMalaria remains a major public health threat in Ethiopia despite the tremendous progress made towards the 2030 elimination targets. The silent transmission of asymptomatic infection is one of the factors that enhance the persistence of the disease as a public health issue and impedes efforts to eliminate malaria. Thus, this study aimed at investigating the prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic malaria infection in Boricha district, Sidama region of Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in eight selected kebeles (smallest administrative unit) in Boricha district. Representative households were chosen using a multi-stage sampling technique. A total of 573 participants were included in the study. Malaria diagnosis was performed using rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and microscopy. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect socio-demographic information. Epi data 3.1 was employed for data entry, and SPSS version 25 was used for analysis.ResultsOf the 573 asymptomatic participants tested, 6.1% were found to be positive by RDT and 4.0% by microscopy. Participants aged under 5 years (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI 0.46–5.39) and 5–14 years old (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.08–5.40), Insecticide-treated net utilization (AOR = 8.41; 95% CI 1.09–65.08), travel history (AOR = 6.85, 95% CI 2.32–20.26) and living in a house with windows (AOR = 2.11, 95% CI 1.02–4.36) were significantly associated with the asymptomatic malaria infection.ConclusionThe findings of this study revealed that prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infection was higher in the study area. As a result, rigorous implementation of existing interventions, such as vector control and anti-malaria drugs, is strongly recommended. In addition, devising new ones that are suited to the contextual situations is highly suggested.

Factors Influencing Utilization of Insecticide-treated Nets among Pregnant Women and Children in Bayelsa and Rivers States, Nigeria

Aim: Globally, Pregnant women and under five years children are the most vulnerable group in malaria zones. This study aimed to assessed factors influencing utilization of ITNs among pregnant women and care givers of children in Bayelsa and Rivers States, Nigeria.&#x0D; Methodology: A pretest-posttest descriptive cross-sectional survey of 330 pregnant women and caregivers of children was conducted in Bayelsa and Rivers States using multi-stage random sampling technique. Pretest questionnaire was administered to sampled respondents. Health education intervention was done to motivate behavioral change wheel (BCW) of respondents. Posttest questionnaire was administered two (2) months after health education intervention.&#x0D; Results: Two hundred and eight (63.0%) of pre and 292(88.5%) of post intervention respondents strongly agreed that using ITNs was the best way to prevent malaria. Findings showed that educated respondents were 4 times more knowledgeable than their uneducated counterparts (O.R.: 4.300, 95% C.I.: 0.838-22.064; p-value: 0.058). Low proportion of post intervention respondents 131(39.7%) slept in the ITNs previous night when temperature was between 26 -240C compared to 224 (67.9%) pre intervention respondents when temperature was between 24 – 250C. Public health education on use of ITNs was statistically significan (t-test: 31.026; P &lt; .05). Being harmful and intolerance due to heat were the negative reasons for not using ITNs.&#x0D; Conclusion: The factor ‘heat’ during dry season stands as barrier in use of ITNs irrespective of health education intervention. It is recommended that Government policies on ventilated buildings be enforced, as well as improve on quality of the ITNs for hot weather tolerance.

Estimating malaria transmission risk through surveillance of human–vector interactions in northern Ghana

BackgroundVector bionomics are important aspects of vector-borne disease control programs. Mosquito-biting risks are affected by environmental, mosquito behavior and human factors, which are important for assessing exposure risk and intervention impacts. This study estimated malaria transmission risk based on vector–human interactions in northern Ghana, where indoor residual spraying (IRS) and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been deployed.MethodsIndoor and outdoor human biting rates (HBRs) were measured using monthly human landing catches (HLCs) from June 2017 to April 2019. Mosquitoes collected were identified to species level, and Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (An. gambiae s.l.) samples were examined for parity and infectivity. The HBRs were adjusted using mosquito parity and human behavioral observations.ResultsAnopheles gambiae was the main vector species in the IRS (81%) and control (83%) communities. Indoor and outdoor HBRs were similar in both the IRS intervention (10.6 vs. 11.3 bites per person per night [b/p/n]; z = −0.33, P = 0.745) and control communities (18.8 vs. 16.4 b/p/n; z = 1.57, P = 0.115). The mean proportion of parous An. gambiae s.l. was lower in IRS communities (44.6%) than in control communities (71.7%). After adjusting for human behavior observations and parity, the combined effect of IRS and ITN utilization (IRS: 37.8%; control: 57.3%) on reducing malaria transmission risk was 58% in IRS + ITN communities and 27% in control communities with ITNs alone (z = −4.07, P < 0.001). However, this also revealed that about 41% and 31% of outdoor adjusted bites in IRS and control communities respectively, occurred before bed time (10:00 pm). The mean directly measured annual entomologic inoculation rates (EIRs) during the study were 6.1 infective bites per person per year (ib/p/yr) for IRS communities and 16.3 ib/p/yr for control communities. After considering vector survival and observed human behavior, the estimated EIR for IRS communities was 1.8 ib/p/yr, which represents about a 70% overestimation of risk compared to the directly measured EIR; for control communities, it was 13.6 ib/p/yr (16% overestimation).ConclusionIndoor residual spraying significantly impacted entomological indicators of malaria transmission. The results of this study indicate that vector bionomics alone do not provide an accurate assessment of malaria transmission exposure risk. By accounting for human behavior parameters, we found that high coverage of ITNs alone had less impact on malaria transmission indices than combining ITNs with IRS, likely due to observed low net use. Reinforcing effective communication for behavioral change in net use and IRS could further reduce malaria transmission.Graphical

Utilization of insecticide-treated nets and associated factors among childbearing women in Northern Nigeria

BackgroundStudies have explored the correlates of insecticide-treated nets in Nigeria. The few studies that focused on Northern Nigeria mostly examined individual correlates, but largely ignored the community correlates. Also, the persistence of armed insurgencies in the region calls for more research attention. This study examines the utilization and the associated individual and community factors of insecticide-treated nets in Northern Nigeria.MethodsThe study adopted a cross-sectional design. Data were extracted from the 2021 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS). A weighted sample size of 6873 women was analysed. The outcome variable was the utilization of insecticide-treated nets. The explanatory variables selected at the individual/household level were maternal age, maternal education, parity, religion, sex of head of household, household wealth, and household size. The variables selected at the community level were the type of place of residence, geo-political zone of residence, the proportion of children under five who slept under a bed net, the proportion of women aged 15–49 who heard malaria media messages, and the community literacy level. Two variables, namely, the number of mosquito bed nets in the household, and the number of rooms used for sleeping were included for statistical control. Three multilevel mixed-effect regression models were fitted.ResultsThe majority of childbearing women (71.8%) utilized insecticide-treated nets. Parity and household size were the significant individual/household characteristics associated with the utilization of insecticide-treated nets. The proportion of under-five children in the community who slept under mosquito bed nets, and the geopolitical zone of residence were significant community correlates of the use of insecticide-treated nets. In addition, the number of rooms for sleeping, and the number of mosquito bed nets in the households were significantly associated with the utilization of insecticide-treated nets.ConclusionParity, household size, number of sleeping rooms, number of treated bed nets, geo-political zone of residence, and proportion of under-five children sleeping under bed nets are important associated factors of the utilization of insecticide-treated nets in Northern Nigeria. Existing malaria preventive initiatives should be strengthened to target these characteristics.

Insecticide-treated bed net use and associated factors among households having under-five children in East Africa: a multilevel binary logistic regression analysis

BackgroundEven though malaria is preventable, it remains the leading cause of under-five morbidity and mortality in low-and middle-income countries. Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, its advantage, and its free-of-cost access, the utilization of insecticide-treated nets (ITN) is still low in East Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to assess ITN use and associated factors among households having under-five children in East Africa.MethodsThe most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) datasets of East African countries were used. A total of 174,411 weighted samples was used for analysis. Given the hierarchical nature of DHS data, a multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with ITN use. Four models were fitted and a model with the lowest deviance value was chosen as the best-fitted model for the data. Variables with a p-value < 0.2 in the bivariable analysis were considered for the multivariable analysis. In the multivariable multilevel binary logistic regression analysis, the Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with the 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported to declare the statistical significance and strength of association.ResultsIn this study, the proportion of ITN use among households having under-five children in East Africa was 46.32% (95% CI 46.08%, 46.55%), ranging from 11.8% in Zimbabwe to 70.03% in Rwanda. In the multivariable analysis, being in the age group 25–34 years, married, widowed, and divorced, primary and post-primary education, wealthy households, having a lower household size, many under-five children, having media exposure, and male-headed households were associated with higher odds of ITN use. Moreover, respondents from a rural place of residence, communities with a higher level of media exposure, communities with lower poverty levels, and communities with higher education levels had higher odds of ITN use.ConclusionIn this study, the proportion of ITN use was relatively low. Both individual and community-level factors were associated with ITN use. Therefore, giving attention, especially to those who had no formal education, the poor, younger age groups, and households with the large family size is advisable to increase awareness about ITN use. Moreover, media campaigns regarding ITN use should be strengthened.

Utilization of Insecticide-Treated Nets in Households for Under-5 Children and Associated Factors in East Mesekan District, Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are widely used tools that have been proven effective in preventing and controlling malaria. However, usage varies among households and can greatly affect the benefits of ITNs. Thus, this study aimed to assess the household utilization of insecticide-treated nets and its associated factors for under-5 children. A cross-sectional study was conducted in March-April 2020 in the East Mesekan district. A total of 591 households with under-5 children were chosen by using a systematic random sampling approach for the interviews. The data was collected using a pretested questionnaire. Epi-Data version 3.1 was used to enter data and SPSS version 21 for analysis. A P-value of .05 was considered statistically significant. In this study, 58.2% (95% CI: [54.1%-62.2%]) of household participants used ITN for children under 5 years of age while sleeping the night before the survey. The study participants' overall knowledge and practice of malaria prevention were 27.1% and 23.9%, respectively. Having a family size of less than 5 (AOR = 0.60, 95% CI: [0.37-0.98]) and complaints of skin irritation (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI: [0.29-0.63]) significantly decreased ITN utilization. However, having 1 ITN (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI: [1.15-4.02]) or 2 ITNs (AOR = 2.58, 95% CI: [1.51-4.39]), as well as low (AOR = 2.07, 95% CI: [1.33-3.20]) and medium (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI: [1.11-3.02]) knowledge of ITN importance, increased ITN utilization significantly. The households' use of ITNs for children under the age of 5 was inadequate. It was significantly associated with having a family size of less than 5, complaints of skin irritation, owning 1 or 2 ITNs, and having low and medium knowledge of its importance. It is recommended that continuous and progressive health awareness about the consistent use of ITN for malaria prevention in the study area be promoted.

Inequalities in the use of insecticide-treated nets by pregnant women in Ghana, 2011 and 2017

Pregnant women and children are the mostvulnerable group of people usually affected by malaria. The use of insecticide-treated nets is one of the proven interventions for mitigating malaria and itsassociated deaths in endemic regions,including Ghana. Meanwhile, there is limited evidence on the extent of inequality in insecticide-treated nets use by pregnant womenin Ghana. This study assessed the inequalities in insecticide-treated nets use by pregnant women in Ghana. Data from the 2011 and 2017 versions of the Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys were used. The 2019 updated World Health Organization (WHO) HEAT software (version 3.1) was used for all analyses. Four equity stratifiers were employed to disaggregate insecticide-treated nets use by pregnant women in Ghana. These are economic status, level of education, place ofresidence, and sub-national region. Four measures were used to compute inequality namely Difference (D), Population Attributable risk (PAR), Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) and Ratio (R). The analyses indicated a rise in pregnant women's insecticide-treated nets use from 32.6% in 2011 to 49.7% in 2017. Except sub-nationalregion, all the factors showed mild inequality in insecticide-treated nets use. For instance, with respect to theeconomic status of pregnant women, only a slight inequality was exhibited by one of the simple measures in both 2011 (R = 0.3; 95% UI = 0.2-0.6) and 2017 (R = 0.5; 95% UI = 0.3-0.7). Marginal inequality in insecticide-treated nets use was noted in 2011 (R = 0.6; 95% UI = 0.5-0.9) and 2017 (R = 0.8; 95% UI = 0.6-0.9) for level of education. In the same vein, slight inequality was realized with respect to place of residence in 2011 (R = 0.4; 95% UI = 0.3-0.6) and 2017 (R = 0.6; 95% UI = 0.5-0.7). For sub-national region, both simple (D = 50.5; 95% UI = 30.7-70.4) and complex (PAF = 91.3; 95% UI = 72.3-110.3) measures demonstrated substantial inequality in 2011. In the case of 2017, considerable inequality in insecticide-treated netsuse occurred (D = 58; 95% UI = 42.2-73.8, PAF = 51.9; 95% UI = 36.2-67.6). In conclusion, insecticide-treated nets utilization by pregnant Ghanaianwomen increased between 2011 and 2017. The findings show that Ghana's Ministry of Health in collaboration with anti-malarial non-governmental organizations must review patterns of insecticide-treated nets distribution and intensify advocacy among educated pregnant women, those in urban settings and the rich, to assuage the magnitude of inequality.

The knowledge and use of insecticide treated nets (INTs) among rural dwellers in Ivo L.G.A, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Effective uses of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are considered key to the elimination of malaria among vulnerable populations. Several studies have revealed that the degree of awareness, ownership, and consistent use of ITNs by rural dwellers differ from one area or region to the other. The aim of the study was to determine the awareness of ITNs and factors affecting their use among rural dwellers in Ivo L.G.A of Ebonyi State. Simple survey method was adopted for the study. Three hundred (300) questionnaires were given out to respondents; however, 276 respondents representing 92% of the sample size returned their questionnaires. The data generated was analyzed and represented in simple frequency table and simple bar chart using IBM SPSS statistical package. The result indicated that majority of the respondents in the study area had vast knowledge of ITNs. Relationship between educational level, age, occupation of respondents and knowledge of ITNs was observed. The result showed that age, educational status, and educational status of rural dwellers were significantly associated with their knowledge of ITNs in Ivo LGA. Majority (72.5%) of the respondents in the study area had vast knowledge about ITNs, while minority (27.5%) had little or no knowledge of ITNs. The knowledge of ITNs by rural dwellers in Ivo LGA was independent of gender of the rural dwellers. A study to assess the actual use and impact of utilization of ITNs among children, pregnant mothers, nursing mothers, the adolescents, and the aged in Ivo communities is recommended.

Utilization of insecticide treated nets among pregnant women in sodo zuria woreda Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundThe malaria control strategy has shown an improvement in providing services and allocating resources to enhance malaria elimination. The world malaria report indicated that there was a marked increment of insecticide treated net (ITNs) utilization among pregnant women. However, in Ethiopia, the number of households with possession and utilization of ITNs is still far behind the WHO recommendations. Hence, this study was aimed to measure the magnitude of ITN utilization and to identify factors associated with its utilization among pregnant women from April 4, 2021 to April 15, 2021 in Sodo Zuria Woreda, in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia.MethodsA community based cross-sectional study was employed. Data were collected using interviewer administered pretested, structured questionnaires. Simple random sampling method was used to select 459 pregnant women. Data were entered into Epi Info version 7 and then exported to statistical package for the social sciences for further analysis. We used time period for data collection of current study. Binary’s logistic regression was used to determine factors affecting insecticides treated net (ITN) utilization. Adjusted Odd Ratios (OR) with 95% CI was used to measures the strengths of associations.ResultsOf 435 surveyed households with pregnant women, 341(78.39%) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) (74.5%, 82.3%) possessed at least one insecticide treated net. Among them, 194(56.89%) with 95% CI (51.6%, 61.7%) interviewees had self-reported as they slept under insecticide treated net on the night preceding the data collection day. Utilization of insecticide treated nets by other family members, AOR: 6.615(95% CI: 3.358, 13.032), knowledge that the use of insecticide treated nets can prevent malaria, AOR: 3.221(95% CI: 1.737, 5.974), sleeping under insecticide treated nets, AOR: 3.726(95% CI: 1.974, 7.034), and attending ANC follow up visits, AOR: 1.956(95% CI: 1.097), were found to be significantly associated factors with pregnant women’s insecticide treated net utilization.ConclusionThe number of households with pregnant women who had possession and utilization of ITNs was much lower than the recommendations set by WHO. Therefore, information dissemination to malaria high risk groups about insecticide treated net utilization and replacement of worn-out insecticide treated nets should be emphasized.

Utilization of insecticide-treated bed nets among pregnant women in Myanmar-analysis of the 2015-2016 Demographic and Health Survey.

Due to the effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), most malaria-endemic countries resort to free distributions in the population with particular attention to pregnant women, a more vulnerable group. However, the mere issuance of ITNs does not usually translate to proper utilization. This study aimed to examine the utilization of ITNs and its associated factors among pregnant women in Myanmar. The data analyzed in this cross-sectional study were extracted from available survey datasets of the 2015-16 Myanmar Demographic Health Survey. The secondary data were presented using a chart, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics including simple and multiple logistic regression models. All analyses were performed using STATA, Version 15. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of 466 currently pregnant women, the majority (96%) possessed bed nets for sleeping. Among them, 15.9% slept without a bed net the night before the survey, while 65.7% slept with untreated nets. Only about 1 in 5 (18.4%) slept under ITNs. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, pregnant women residing in delta and lowland regions [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 7.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.62, 16.38], plains (aOR = 7.09, 95%CI: 3.09, 16.25) or hilly areas (aOR = 4.26, 95%CI: 1.91, 9.52) were more likely to report non-utilization of ITNs than those residing in coastal regions. Relatively poor ITN utilization was observed among pregnant women in Myanmar. Health promotion activities for ITN utilization should be implemented especially for pregnant women residing in the delta, lowland, plain and hilly regions. Other social-behavioral factors including perceived susceptibility to malaria, knowledge of ITNs, and attitude towards ITN that might favor the non-utilization of ITNs need to be further explored.

Insecticide-Treated Nets Utilization and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in Miesso Woreda, Eastern Ethiopia: Observational Study.

BackgroundEven though most sub-Saharan Africa adopted the World Health organization guidelines for malaria prevention, the coverage of insecticide-treated nets by pregnant women is low, where 28 million pregnant women did not receive insecticide-treated nets services. Likewise, only 13–51.4% of pregnant women utilize insecticide-treated nets in Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Miesso woreda from April 01 to 30, 2017, among 424 pregnant women. A multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select the study participants. A structured interviewer-based administered questionnaire and observational checklist were used to collect the data. The collected data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Multiple logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with insecticide-treated nets utilization. Adjusted odds ratios along 95% CI were estimated to measure the strength of the association and declared statistical significance at a p-value < 0.05.ResultsOf a total respondents, 39.9% (95% CI: 34.9–44.2%) utilize insecticide-treated nets. Pregnant women from rural (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.38), employed women (AOR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.86), monthly income >1050 Ethiopian total birr (AOR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.06, 3.84), third trimester pregnancy (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.09, 4.40), and having antenatal care for current pregnancy (AOR = 3.86, 95% CI: 1.63, 9.10) were factors significantly associated with insecticide-treated nets.ConclusionThe utilization of insecticide-treated nets is relatively low. Residence, occupational status, monthly income, stage of pregnancy, and antenatal care status were factors significantly associated with insecticide-treated net utilization among pregnant women.

Insecticide-Treated Bed Net Utilization and Associated Factors Among Households in Ilu Galan District, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.

Introduction:Insecticide-treated mosquito nets are often used as a physical barrier to prevent infection of malaria. In sub-Saharan Africa, one of the most important ways of lowering malaria burden is the utilization of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). However, there is no sufficient information on ITN utilization and its associated factors in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the utilization of insecticide-treated bed nets and its associated factors among households in Ilu Galan district, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.Methods:A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Ilu Galan district to select 550 households using systematic random sampling techniques. Interviewer-administered questionnaire and observational checklists were used to collect data. The collected data was entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. The results were presented by texts, tables, and graphs. Both binary and multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess factors associated with ITN utilization.Results:A total of 532 study participants responded to the questionnaire making a response rate of 96.7%. About 72.2%, [95% CI: 68.4%, 75.8%] of the respondents utilized insecticide-treated nets in the night before the day data was collected. Being female [AOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.81], age less than 25 years [AOR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.95], monthly income >1000 ETB [AOR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.69], and having more than 3 beds [AOR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.51] were significantly associated with ITN utilization.Conclusions:Insecticide-treated nets utilization was found to be low in this study. There is a gap between the ownership and ITN utilization. Sex, age, monthly income, and number of beds were factors associated with ITN utilization. The provision of behavioral change communication to the community on the importance of ITN utilization is compulsory.

Determinants of insecticide treated net utilization among under-fives in Nigeria

Introduction: Insecticide treated net (ITN) is pivotal to malaria control but reports show a relatively low ITN utilization when compared to household ownership. It is important to explore the determinants of ITN utilization in order to bridge this gap.Objectives: To determine the factors associated with ITN utilization among under-fives.Method: A cross sectional study was conducted from February to April 2015 among under-fives in Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 494 households from which 413 under-fives were recruited. Information on ITN utilization was obtained using a WHO validated tool. The independent predictors of ITN utilization were determined.Result: ITN was mainly used to prevent mosquito bites (48.3%) and malaria (29.2%). Non-utilization was mainly attributed to heat (38.5%), ‘no reason’ (11.5%) and low mosquito activity (11.1%). Household head of 30-39 years, the presence of two under-fives in a household and the number of ITNs observed hanging over bed spaces were the independent of predictors utilization.Conclusion: Caregivers aged 30 – 39 years, presence of two under-five children in a household and the number of ITNs observed hanging over bed spaces were the predictors of ITN utilization.

Malaria vector dynamics and utilization of insecticide-treated nets in low-transmission setting in Southwest Ethiopia: implications for residual transmission

BackgroundUnderstanding the behaviour of local malaria vectors is essential as effectiveness of the commonly used vector-targeted malaria control tools heavily relies on behaviour of the major malaria vectors. This study was conducted to determine species composition, biting behaviour, host preference and infectivity of anopheline mosquitoes, and assess utilization of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in a low transmission setting in Southwest Ethiopia.MethodsAdult anopheline mosquitoes were collected using human landing catches (HLCs), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps (LTs) and Pyrethrum Spray Catches (PSCs) from June 2016 to May 2018 in Kishe, Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. The anopheline mosquitoes were morphologically identified. Moreover, sub-sample of An. gambiae s.l. was identified to species using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Circum-sporozoite proteins (CSPs) and blood meal sources of the anopheline mosquitoes were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess ITN utilization by the inhabitants.ResultsA total of 3659 anopheline mosquitoes comprising An. coustani complex (84.4%), An. gambiae s.l. (11.3%), and An. pharoensis and An. squamosus comprising less than 5% were collected. The anopheline mosquitoes showed marked outdoor (67%) and early evening (63%) biting behaviour. An. coustani complex and An. gambiae s.l. were predominantly zoophilic and anthropophilic, respectively. None of the sampled anopheline were CSP-positive. Most of the households (97.8%) owned at least one ITN, with modest usage by the inhabitants (73.4%). ITN usage was significantly higher among under-five children (AOR = 7.9, 95% CI: 4.41–14.03), household heads and spouses (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI: 3.0–7.59), those with sufficient access to ITNs (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.39–2.35), and who were not utilizing alternative mosquito repellents (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.58–2.99).ConclusionThe anopheline mosquito species exhibited predominantly outdoor and early evening biting activity. Household ITN coverage was high with slight gap in usage. Vector control interventions should target outdoor and early biting vectors to further suppress the local mosquito population. Moreover, sensitization of the community on consistent use of ITNs is required.