Ownership and use of insecticide‐treated nets under Ghana’s National Malaria Control Program: What are the correlates?

Abstract

Malaria remains a significant health threat in Ghana, and by extension, many sub-Saharan African countries. It is caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes, which usually bite between sunset and sunrise [1]. Africa accounted for 93% of the 228 million malaria cases in 2018 [2]. Globally, malaria caused 405,000 estimated deaths in 2018, with Africa accounting for 94% of the total deaths. Children below 5 years are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria. They accounted for 67% of all malaria deaths worldwide [2].Since malaria is a preventable disease, various measures have been instituted to prevent or curb its spread globally. Indoor residual spraying (IRS), intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are among the preventive measures [1,3]. This study focuses on ITNs. To reduce malaria-related morbidities and mortalities, there has been mass distribution of ITNs to countries battling malaria.

Relationship between Duffy Genotype/Phenotype and Prevalence of Plasmodium vivax Infection: A Systematic Review

“…Only one systematic review has investigated the prevalence of P. vivax malaria in Duffy-negative individuals [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]. This review revealed that 100% of Duffy-negative subjects had reported cases of P. vivax malaria in 11 studies.…”

The relationship between anaemia and the use of treated bed nets among pregnant and non-pregnant women in Ghana

“…As a result, women (pregnant and non-pregnant) are most likely to be advised to use TBNs [ 27 ]. This notwithstanding, although most women (pregnant and non-pregnant) (around eighty-five percent (85%)) have TBNs [ 27 ], a greater proportion do not use them [ 28 , 29 ]. Several factors, including pregnancy status, health status (i.e anaemia level) etc., have been found to influence the usage of TBNs among women in Ghana [ 20 , 28 ].…”

Prevalence of malaria infection and the impact of mosquito bed net distribution among children aged 6–59 months in Ghana: Evidence from the Ghana demographic health and malarial indicator surveys

“…Among those who have access to ITNs, only 43% of the household population use them and the differences between access to and use of ITNs is larger in urban population (59% versus 28%) than in rural households (74% versus 57%) ( Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), and and ICF, 2020 ). Skin irritation, individuals who perceive themselves as not likely to be beaten by mosquitoes or get malaria ( Mensah and Anto, 2020 ), poor wealth index ( Bawuah and Ampaw, 2021 ; Kanmiki et al, 2019 ), individual age ( Konlan et al, 2019 ) among others are some factors that hamper mosquito bed net usage in Ghana.…”