Towards An Effective And Sustainable Malaria Control: Ownership And Use Of Insecticide Treated Nets By Pregnant Women In Ekiti, Southwest, Nigeria.

Abstract

Malaria is a major factor in maternal reproductive health problems in Nigeria. A key National intervention for malaria control and prevention among pregnant women in Nigeria has thus been access and use of insecticide treated nets (ITNS).  The aim of this paper is to describe the level of ITN ownership and use among pregnant women with a view to bringing to fore the effectiveness and sustainability of ITN-related malaria control efforts in Nigeria. A total of 900 pregnant women was selected through multi-stage probability sampling technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on socio-demographic characteristics; knowledge and perception of malaria; malaria preventive behaviour; and ITN knowledge, ownership, use and assessment by the women.  Data generated were analysed using descriptive statististics and summarized into percentages. The findings of the study showed that ITN use lagged well behind ITN ownership.  This seems to suggest that the focus on universal access to ITN may not necessarily lead to use, unless it is accompanied by behavior change interventions that focus on proper understanding of ITN intervention, ensure proper understanding of ITN intervention by the population, its correct use and the actual risk reduction benefits of using ITNs despite potential inconveniences for the user.  It could also be worthwhile to consider a re-positioning and re-packaging of the ITN device and to supplement its use with other preventive methods towards an effective and sustainable malaria control.

Keywords: ITNs, ITN Coverage, Malaria Control.