Effectiveness of peer-learning assisted primary school students educating the rural community on insecticide-treated nets utilization in Jimma-zone Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Making insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) utilization a social norm would support the global goal of malaria eradication and Ethiopian national aim of its elimination by 2030. Jimma zone is one of the endemic settings in Ethiopia. This study aimed to report effects of malaria education, delivered by students, on community behaviours; particularly ITNs. Methods In pre-posttest, cross-sectional household surveys conducted in rural villages of 5 districts in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia, 762 households were sampled. The intervention engaged students from primary schools in participatory peer education within small groups, followed by exposing parents with malaria messages aimed at influencing perceptions and practices. The data were analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Proportions/means differences were computed to compare changes in exposure, knowledge, perceptions, and practices using 95% CI at p < 0.05. Regression analyses were conducted to assess exposures to school-based education, content intensity, perception, and access related predictors of ITN utilization over the intervention periods. Results Over the intervention periods, the findings showed significant improvement in exposure to and content intensity of malaria messages delivered by students, effect size (ES) = 44.5% and 19.3%, p < 0.001, respectively. ITN utilization (ES = 25.8%), and the reported behaviour of giving ITN priority to children under 5 years old and pregnant women increased by ES = 16.3% and 24.8%, respectively. The exposure status or content intensity of malaria education, in turn, significantly improved comprehensive knowledge about malaria (β = +1.82), misconceptions about causes (β = − 11.46), awareness of caring for ITN (β = +24.79), identifying ITN as effective preventive methods (OR = 1.93), attitude towards ITN (β = +0.20), perceived efficacy of ITN (OR = 1.04), acceptance of ITN as a means to control the danger of malaria (β = +8.08%), and ITN utilization (OR = 1.85). Nonetheless, perceived threat (β = − 0.19) significantly negatively correlated with exposure to students’ messages. Socio-demography, access, exposures to messages, and parental perception that students were good reminders predicted ITN utilization over the intervention periods with some changing patterns. Conclusions Exposing the community to malaria education through students effectively supports behaviour change, particularly ITN usage, to be more positive towards desired malaria control practices. A school-based strategy is recommended to the national effort to combat malaria.

Relationship between the Usage of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets (LLITNs) and Malaria Prevalence among School-Age Children in Southwestern Nigeria

“…Recent studies revealed the burden of malaria in school-age children, their role in acting as a reservoir of infection, and the least likelihood of SAC in utilizing insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) [4][5][6]. e effectiveness of LLITNs in malaria control and the role of schools have been demonstrated [7][8][9][10][11]. While earlier studies have surveyed LLITN usage among school children and school-based net distribution in the integrated national malaria surveillance system [5,12], there is a paucity of information on the impact of LLITN usage on malaria prevalence among school-age children in Nigeria.…”

Comparing insecticide-treated nets access-use based on universal household and population indicators vis-a-vis measures adapted to sleeping spaces in Ethiopia

“…This revealed that ITN programme should also focus on promoting ITN utilization behaviour through different strategies. School-centered community education strategy promoted ITN utilization [ 37 , 39 ]. Concurrently, the SS equivalent (SSP6) was 92.1% producing only 7.9% behavioural failure to use ITN.…”

Effectiveness of Malaria Free Zone Program on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Malaria Prevention among university students in Conakry, Guinea: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…It is important to have the correct knowledge towards malaria because it helps individuals understand the ways in which malaria is transmitted, the cause of malaria, the source of malaria and the signs and symptoms towards malaria so that they may know how to prevent contracting the disease. As author aware, there have been several intervention studies to improve KAP of malaria in other African countries, including Nigeria (12), South Africa (13), North Sudan (14), Ethiopia (15), Niger (16), Mali (17), and Malawi (18). In Guinea, however, there has yet to be an intervention study conducted on the KAP of malaria.…”