HOUSEHOLD OWNERSHIP AND USE OF INSECTICIDE-TREATED NETS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN AKINYELE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

In order to combat the burden of malaria, different strategies including Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) have been put in place. Several ITNs have been distributed with support from international donors and this necessitates an increase in monitoring and evaluation efforts in order to determine its impact as well as prioritize future programmes. The current standards for estimating impact indicators of ITNs are household surveys such as the Demographic Health Surveys (NDHS) and Malaria Indicator Surveys (MIS) which are expensive and are not conducted frequently enough. Collecting information from school children has been found to be a cheap and fast means for routine monitoring and evaluation of malaria control programmes in some sub­Saharan African countries. The study was conducted to explore school children's report of household ownership and use of ITNs in Akinyele Local Government Area (LGA), Oyo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. A three-stage sampling technique was employed to select 611 pupils from 15 out of 88 primary schools in three selected Wards within the LGA. Information on pupils' socio-demographics, knowledge about malaria prevention methods, report of household ownership and use of ITNs were obtained using a semi­structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square. Level of significance was set at 5%. Respondents' mean age was 10.5±1.7 years; 73.6% were within age 10-13 years; 52.7% were females, 84.6% were Yoruba and 65.3% had under-five children in their households. About a third of the pupils' mothers were reported attained secondary education. Almost all the respondents were aware about malaria. Common symptoms of malaria mentioned were head ache 52.2% and fever 46.3%. The least mentioned symptom was vomiting (13.9%). Sixty six percent of the respondents mentioned mosquito bite as the cause of malaria. Majority (67.6%) of the respondents identified under-five children as the group most vulnerable to malaria. The major sources of malaria prevention information mention are radio 46.0%, mother (36.6%) and teacher (35.7%). Overall, (87.7%) of the respondents had good knowledge about malaria and its prevention. Seventy four percent of the respondents mentioned mosquito nets as the best protective measure against malaria. The other protective measures against mosquito bite stated are; keeping surrounding clean 34.7%, mosquito coil (26.4%), closing windows and doors (25.5%), insecticide spraying (8.0%). Most, (81 .7%) of the respondents reported household ownership of at least one ITN. Majority of the respondents (76.4%) reported obtaining ITNs from mass distribution campaigns. eighty nine percent of the respondents reported household use of ITNs by member the night preceding the survey. More than half, (51.6%) of the respondents reported ITN use by under-five children. Class was significantly associated with knowledge about malaria and its prevention (i= 19.223, p < 000) and reported household ownership of ITNs (i= 9.2I7,p<0.010). Many of the pupils were knowledgeable about malaria although there were misconceptions about the causes and symptoms of malaria. Majority of the pupils could report household ownership and use of ITNs. They should be considered a potential medium to monitor ITNs ownership and use.