Socio-demographic factors influencing the ownership and utilization of insecticide-treated bed nets among malaria vulnerable groups in the Buea Health District, Cameroon

Abstract

BackgroundMalaria remains a public health problem and the use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) against it in vulnerable groups (pregnant women and children <5 years) is recommended in Cameroon. This study was aimed at assessing the socio-demographic factors influencing the ownership and utilization of ITNs among vulnerable groups in the Buea Health District (BHD).MethodsIn a cross-sectional survey a questionnaire was administered in households with at least a child <5 years and/pregnant woman in five health areas of the BHD. Information on demographic variables, household composition, mosquito bed net (MBN) ownership, utilization and factors influencing ownership and utilization was recorded.ResultsA total of 443 respondents were recruited and 208 (47.0%) possessed at least one MBN (total = 275 MBNs) with a median of 1.33 nets. Of the 275 nets found in households, 89 (32%) were potent ITNs and others had never been retreated/treated. Purchase of MBNs from the market was associated with marital status (P = 0.010) and urban settlement (P = 0.045). The number of respondents who did not know where to retreat/treat ITNs was significantly higher (P = 0.005) in urban than rural dwellers. The proportion of rural respondents who had once taken their MBNs for re-treatment was significantly higher (P = 0.002) than that of urban dwellers. MBN utilisation was 69.7% (95% confidence interval; CI = .63.2–75.6%). A total of 83.4%, 13.8% and 3.4% used MBNs throughout the year, during the rainy and dry seasons respectively. MBN use in children under five was associated with being from an urban area (P = 0.01). MBN use in pregnant women was associated with living in block-louver houses than in block-pane houses (P = 0.047).ConclusionsUtilization of MBN needs to be encouraged to match ownership while free distribution of ITNs to vulnerable groups needs to be continuous and consistent.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1756-0500-7-624) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Utilization of Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets and Parasitaemia at 6 Months after a Mass Distribution Exercise among Households in Mbarara Municipality, Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Community Based Study

“…Marital status is important for LLIN use because our data show that being single was associated with a 10.4-fold increase in the odds of using a bed net compared to being married or cohabiting. The findings of the relationship between marital status and LLIN use are in agreement with what was reported in a study conducted from Cameroon [ 33 ]. The reasons for this finding were not explored in this study.…”

A qualitative study of use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) for intended and unintended purposes in Adami Tullu, East Shewa Zone, Ethiopia

“…Such beliefs and ignorance about mechanisms of malaria transmission and proper use of the nets were reported in Ethiopia and elsewhere and in Africa, showing the links between an individual’s knowledge and beliefs related to malaria and LLINs (see for example [ 22 , 24 – 28 ]). Githinji et al [ 29 ] for Kenya, and Berhanu et al [ 7 ] for Ethiopia similarly reported that behavioural dynamics such as low risk perception, saving nets for future use, awareness and negligence accounted for failures in proper use of LLINs.…”

“…LLINs’ utilization and care in Adami Tullu district were dependent on a range of factors, notably the local socio-cultural dynamics, residential patterns, distance of households from net distribution centres, and livelihood conditions. Comparable reasons were reported for communities elsewhere in Ethiopia [ 17 , 18 ]; Kenya [ 19 ], Uganda [ 15 ], Rwanda [ 20 ], Nigeria [ 21 ], Mozambique [ 1 ] and Cameron [ 22 ]. All these studies demonstrate that following mass distribution campaigns, behavioural, demographic, environmental, sociocultural and livelihood factors were important in influencing ownership and proper use of LLINs.…”

“…Unlike many African countries, the distribution of nets for free has only been introduced recently in Ethiopia through WHO, UNICEF, NGOs and Ministry of Health (Jima et al 2009, cited in Fetene et al [ 25 ]). Studies conducted in Cameroon [ 22 ] and Uganda [ 16 ] highlighted the need for more focus on scaling up free provision of nets for poor households, to address issues of equity and meet the needs of households that could not use nets for economic reasons.…”

Factors associated with the use of mosquito bed nets: results from two cross-sectional household surveys in Zambézia Province, Mozambique

“…Determining the best strategies for attaining and maintaining this universal coverage remains uncertain [ 13 ]. Challenges include the need for establishing appropriate algorithms for determining the number of mosquito nets needed for distribution [ 13 ]; promoting proper use and replacement of old and torn nets [ 14 , 15 ]; as well as understanding the local social norms and other determinants that contribute to increased uptake and utilization [ 16 – 18 ].…”