Socio-Demographic Evaluation of Ownership Levels and Utilization Rates of LLINs against Malaria Vectors within Urban Settlements of Osogbo District, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Globally, malaria is one of the major endemic diseases of public health importance caused by Plasmodium spp. and transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Efforts to eradicate malaria disease are on the decline despite appreciable progress recorded in the past. This warranted holistic review of malaria interventions which include among others, the assessment of Long Lasting Insecticidal Treated Nets (LLINs). Adopted questionnaires from Roll Back Malaria (RBM), World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) were administered to evaluate ownership levels and utilization rates of LLINs against malaria vectors in urban settlements of Osogbo district, Osun state, Nigeria. Out of 1,500 households surveyed, 78.9% of the households had at least one LLIN, while 78.3% households had the LLINs hanging in their homes, but 60.8% of the households frequently used the LLINs. There were statistically significant differences between the ownership levels of LLINs, usage of LLINs by hanging and the utilization rates of LLINs in the studied population comparatively (p < 0.05). Although the percentage of LLINs possession is high, the rate of utilization of the LLINs varies and is not encouraging which negates the WHO recommended utility procedures. Therefore, acceptability of LLINs usage and sustainable positive attitudinal changes are needed to achieve the target goals of WHO on elimination of the endemic disease.

Keywords: Malaria; Households; LLINs Usage; Acceptability; Nigeria.