Socio-demographic determinants associated with ownership and use of long lasting insecticide treated nets among pregnant women in the Wa Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: an estimated 125 million pregnancies around the world are at risk of malaria infection every year. Insecticide Treated Bed Nets is a
form of personal protection that has reportedly been shown to reduce severe disease and mortality due to malaria in endemic regions. This study
investigated ownership and utilization of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Wa Municipality of
Ghana. Methods: a cross-sectional study design was adopted to collect data among 394 pregnant women in six antenatal clinics. A two stage
sampling technique was adopted and the data collection tool used was a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics involving
logistic regression were performed using Stata 14. Results: more (33.3%) of the pregnant women were aged between 25-29 years with no formal
education (29.9%) whiles most (69.6%) of the pregnant women were in Islam religion. About 95.9% have heard about Long Lasting Insecticide
Nets and its benefits. Intuitively, ownership of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets was 82.2% with 69.3% utilization of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets.
Pregnant women aged 30-34 and 35 years and above were significant predictors, however, less likely to own Long Lasting Insecticide Nets compared
to 15-19 years [AOR(95%CI)=0.29(0.10-0.87) and 0.08(0.01-0.72) respectively] whiles pregnant women aged 35 years and above were significantly
less likely to utilize Long Lasting Insecticide Nets compared to 15-19 years [OR(95%CI)=0.12(0.03-0.48)]. Conclusion: the study found utilization
of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets among pregnant in the Wa Municipality low as compared to the National Malaria Control Program target in Ghana
although Long Lasting Insecticide Nets ownership was high. The study recommends that Public Health Nurses and Disease Control Officers should
intensify sensitization on the importance and misconception of the use of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets during outreach clinics.