Assessment of the Utilization of Insecticide Treated nets (ITNs) in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study has been carried out to assess the level of utilization of Insecticide treated bed nets, within the Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria. 34 item structured questionnaires was the instrument for data collection. The study population consisted of 440 households. The sampling   technique   used was multi-stage technique. Results from the study showed that despite high rate of ownership of Insecticide Treated bed nets: overall utilization in the study area was 40.68%. This level of utilization 40.68% is still below the 60% standard recommended by the Roll back Malaria programme. Some of the factors affecting utilization of Insecticide Treated bed nets by the respondents were: not accessible 22.73%, lack of information 9.54%, non-availability 8.64%, lack of enough bed space 7.27%, not comfortable 5.91%, not-affordable 5.0% and no mosquitoes in the house 0.23%. There is a need to scale-up ITNs utilization, if the targets of the World Health Organization general assembly target of zero death from malaria and complete eradication of malaria in 2030 have to be achieved, and 60% coverage of the use of insecticide treated bed nets by 2015.

Keywords: Assessment, Utilization, and Insecticide-treated-bed-nets.