The Use of Insecticide Treated Bed Net in Children Under Five Years of Age in Alakahia Community, Rivers State

Abstract

Insecticide Treated bed Net (ITN) is considered to be the most efficacious of all currently feasible interventions for malaria control in Africa. However, its use is still low in Rivers State. This study sought to evaluate the use of insecticide treated bed net, in under-five children in Alakahia, Rivers State. This was a cross-sectional study carried out from 1 st August to 31 st October 2014, over a period of 3 months. Three hundred and ninety-nine children-parent/caregiver pairs were recruited. Children, aged 6-59 months were selected using systematic and simple random sampling methods. The data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. A general examination was done followed by collection of blood samples for estimation of packed cell volume and malaria parasitaemia. ITN ownership per household was 60.2%. Of the 240 respondents who owned ITN, 157 (65.4%) used them for their under-five children, but only 50 (31.8%) children slept under an ITN the night before the study. The factors found to influence the use of ITN were number of nets owned and where the net was got. However, purchasing an ITN was the strongest predictor of ITN use (OR =14.091, P= 0.000). The most common reason for non-use of ITN was 'too hot ' (19.3%). Ownership and use rates were fair, however consistency in the use of the nets was poor. More efforts should be put into health education for behaviour modification.

Burden of Malaria in Children Presenting with Anaemia at Ola During’s Children’s Hospital in Freetown Sierra Leone

“…Less than half of the children did not sleep under insecticide treated bed net this is comparable to the work of Nalley et al working in Nigeria, where ITN use was 34.6. [10] The insecticide treated bed net is meant to provide personal protection from malaria and subsequently from its complications such as anaemia. [11] 11.6% of the parents/caregivers in this study had no formal education which is lower than 2% reported by Nalley et al in Nigeria.…”

“…[11] 11.6% of the parents/caregivers in this study had no formal education which is lower than 2% reported by Nalley et al in Nigeria. [10] This can be explained by the fact that educational standards are higher in Nigeria than Sierra Leone.…”