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The predictors of ownership and utilization of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets among caregivers of under-five children in Ekiti State, South-West, Nigeria


O.P. Oluyide
O.O. Odu
S.K. Salami
O.O. Omoyele
F.F. Oyinlola
S.A. Deji
A. Usman
M. Balogun
E.A. Bamgboye

Abstract

Background - Malaria is a life-threatening disease associated with a high level of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa especially  among children under five years of age. Long-lasting insecticidal Nets (LLINs) ownership and utilization are some of the  proven interventions to reduce the burden of the disease. This paper aims to assess and compare the predictors of ownership and  utilization of LLINs among caregivers of under-five children living in urban and rural settlements in Ekiti State, Nigeria. - This was a cross- sectional comparative study among 800 under-five caregivers. A multistage sampling technique selected 400 caregivers each from urban  and rural settlements. Data were analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) IBM version 23. Univariate analysis was  conducted to summarize the data and inferential statistics were generated using chisquare and binary logistic regression at 95%CI. The  results showed much lower ownership rates in urban (32.3%) than the rural (33.0%). The predictor of ownership of LLINs among  respondents in urban settlements was, obtaining their information about LLINs from health workers, friends as sources of information,  awareness, good knowledge, and having positive attitudes about LLINs. Utilization is better in the rural (78.0%) compared to the urban  (61.2%). The predictor of utilization of LLINs in urban settlements was having positive attitudes towards LLINs while the predictors of the  utilization of LLINs in rural were the number of under-five children with caregivers and positive attitude to LLINs.


Conclusion –Ownership  of LLINs in both settlements was very low and lagged in urban. The utilization was however higher but also lagged in urban.  However, it has not reached the 80% proposed by the National Malaria Control Programme. It is therefore recommended that the Government and partners sustain the free distribution of LLINs throughout the year in the communities to improve ownership and Social  and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) intervention is necessary to improve utilization.   


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eISSN: 2467-8252
print ISSN: 2360-7793