Conference abstract

Knowledge of women of child bearing age on long lasting insecticidal nets and barriers to ownership and utilization, Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2018:8(24).28 Mar 2018.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2018.8.24.606
Archived on: 28 Mar 2018
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Malaria, women in child bearing age, long lasting insecticidal nets, LLIN ownership and utilization
Opening ceremony

Knowledge of women of child bearing age on long lasting insecticidal nets and barriers to ownership and utilization, Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Obafemi Joseph Babalola1,&, Mohammed Sambo2, Olufemi Ajumobi3, Ikeoluwapo Ajayi4, Saheed Gidado3, Patrick Nguku1

1Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Abuja, Nigeria, 2Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, 3African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Nigeria, 4Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

&Corresponding author
Obafemi Joseph Babalola, Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: malaria remains a global threat, its effect on children and pregnant women was devastating. Nigeria bears 25% of malaria burden in Africa, but amenable to Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) utilization. Despite knowledge of malaria, gap exists between LLIN ownership and utilization. We assessed WCBA’s knowledge of LLIN, barriers to ownership and utilization.

Methods: a cross-sectional study. Using a multistage sampling, 630 WCBA (15 to 49 years) in Igabi LGA, Kaduna State Nigeria were interviewed by trained female health workers, with a pretested semi-structured questionnaire adapted from malaria indicator survey on socio-demographic characteristics, LLIN knowledge, ownership, and utilization barriers. Knowledge was categorized into good, average and poor. Frequency, proportions, chi square, odd ratio and multivariate regression were calculated using Epi Info 7.

Results: median age was 29 years (IQR 40) and 22.0% currently pregnant. No formal education, 40.5% and 47.7% at rural residence. LLIN awareness was 96.0%, 28.8% had good knowledge, but ownership and utilization was 79% and 66.5% respectively. Among 132 WCBA without LLIN, ownership barriers were where to get LLIN (40.2), dislike its use (56.8%), and use other malaria preventive measures (34.8%). Barriers in 174 WCBA with unused LLIN were diversion to alternate uses (78.7%), heat and discomfort (21.8%), perceptions of low mosquito density (7.5%) and been bitten by mosquito while sleeping under LLIN (12.6%). Formal education (aOR 1.9; 95% Confidence Interval (C.I); (1.3 - 3.0) predict good knowledge but awareness was 0.2 times less likely (95% (C.I); (0.1 - 0.4) to predict utilization but knowledge of malaria transmission (aOR 1.9, 95% C.I (1.1 - 3.2). Rural residence predicts LLIN ownership (aOR 3.6, 95% C.I (2.3 - 5.8) and utilization (aOR 3.1, 95% C.I (2.1 - 4.6).

Conclusion: poor knowledge of LLIN, barriers to ownership and utilization exists among WCBA. Efforts that educate WCBA on malaria and LLIN utilization with other malaria preventive measures is recommended.