Assessment of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net Utilization and Its Associated Factors Among Households in Adama District, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The distribution and use of long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) is one of the central interventions for preventing malaria infection. National policy aims to provide one LLIN for every sleeping space (approximately one net per 2 persons in malaria-endemic areas). But still there is inadequate follow-up of its utilization status. This study aimed to assess LLINs utilization and its' associated factors among households in Adama district, Oromia region, Ethiopia. A community-based crosssectional study was conducted. The study subjects were randomly selected 422 households by simple random sampling. Data was collected through interview and observation checklist. Among households who owned LLIN (96.7%), only 76% of household members had slept under LLIN during the previous night prior to interview. Regarding LLINs priority to household family members, only 65.4% households given priority to their children under five years and 50% for pregnant women. Concerning to the reasons for not utilizing LLIN, 52.4% of respondents said that sleeping under LLIN was not convenient and 23.1% of them were used for other purposes. Those households who are literate (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI =1.53-7.09), governmental employees (AOR=2.52, 95% CI=1.1-6.53), roof made up of corrugated iron sheet (AOR=1.90, 95% CI=1.79-4.6) were almost two times more likely to slept under LLIN during the previous night prior to interview. Despite high percentages LLIN ownership, there was still a gap between ownership and use of LLIN. Therefore Public health interventions should also address problems related to utilization status of LLIN.

Insecticide-Treated Nets Utilization and Associated Factors among under-5 Years Old Children in Mirab-Abaya District, Gamo-Gofa Zone, Ethiopia

“…Insecticide-treated nets is one of the most important mechanisms that provide a feasible and effective means of combating malaria in highly endemic areas (9) like Mirab Abaya district. Though the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health works substantially to increase ownership of ITNs in each malaria endemic areas, but, many barriers have been indicated in terms of proper utilization of ITNs.…”

“…Data were collected using face-to-face administered structured questionnaire, which was adapted from Ethiopia Malaria Indicator Survey 2011 and other different published literatures (4, 9, 21, 27), and the questionnaire includes questions about the respondent’s sociodemographic characteristics, intra-household factors, households ITNs ownership, and utilization of the under-5 years old children in the household during the night preceding the survey.…”

“…Households are considered as ITNs owners if they have at least one ITN at the time of the interview (9). …”

“…According to this report, ITNs ownership and utilization of under-5 years old children in Southern, Nation, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia was 57 and 42%, respectively (4). According to studies conducted in different areas of Ethiopia, household ownership of at least one ITNs and ITNs utilization among under-5 years old children were 25.3 and 63.9%, respectively, at Adami Tulu district of Oromia region (9), 62.4 and 21.5%, respectively, at Gursum district of Oromia region (10), 95.8 and 59.1%, respectively, in Dejen Woreda, Amhara region (11), 98.4 and 69%, respectively, in Arbaminch Zuria woreda of SNNPR (6), 44.96 and 32% respectively, Shebedino district, SNNPR (12), 71.64% of utilization, Raya Alamata District of Amhara region (13), ownership was 56.6% in Gilgel-Gibe, Ethiopia (14), in SNNPR, 67.5% of households had used a bed net during the previous night. But, only 9.4% were used by children alone (15).…”

“…Hence, knowing that ITNs kills malaria mosquitoes (9), households whose family size was less than or equal to four (10), household with more than one sleeping room (16), female heads (17), male heads (18, 19), gender (20) were associated with ITNs utilization among under-5 years old children. Many studies in Africa had showed similar findings (17, 20, 21).…”