Insecticide Treated Net usage among under-five Children in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

Relevance of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) in reducing the malaria scourge among most vulnerable groups has been reported. This study uses data from 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) to assess utilization among under-five children in South-West of Nigeria, a region with lowest utilization in the country. The study aims at assessing effect of some covariates on utilization of ITNs among children under the age of five in South-West Nigeria. Binary logistic regression is used to assess effect of covariates on response variable and the chi-square test is used to assess dependency of some socio-demographic factors. All factors considered are significant to the response variable except the gender of the child. Utilization is mostly limited because of heat generated by the net and the irritating effects of usage. Rural dwellers are found to have an insignificant higher odds of sleeping under ITN compared to those in urban areas. Lagos state has the lowest utilization rate among states in the region while Ekiti has the highest. Children with fever two weeks preceding the survey have higher odds of sleeping under ITN. Utilization is highest among the poorest with odds of usage more than six times higher than those in richest wealth index category. For any intervention programme especially among the under-five children, identifying most important areas that will maximize efficiency and effectiveness of usually insufficient resources is very crucial. Attempts are to be made in educating caregivers on importance of utilizing ITN rather than the usual ownership sensitization.

Keywords: Insecticide treated nets; under five children; binary logistic regression, Malaria, South-West Nigeria.