Utilization of Insecticide Treated Bed Nets among Mothers Attending MCH/FP in Webuye District Hospital, Bungoma County, Kenya

Taratisio Ndwiga, Robert M. Kei, Odiver W. Dancan

Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpm.2014.46055                

Abstract

Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Kenya, with close to 70 percent (24 million) of the population at risk of infection. It affects people of all age groups: children under five years of age and pregnant women living in malaria endemic regions who are vulnerable. The main objective was to assess the utilization of the insecticide treated bed nets among the mothers attending MCH/FP in Webuye District Hospital, Bungoma County, Kenya. This research was based at the Webuye District Hospital, Bungoma County, Kenya from February to May, 2013. Sample size included 40 adult mothers attending MCH/FP aged 18 years and above during the study period. The design of the study was cross-sectional where sampling technique employed was non-probabilistic, purposive sampling. Data was collected by interviews using structured questionnaire which was administered by the researchers. SPSS version 16 was employed in Data analysis. The association between the overall knowledge about ITN use and malaria attack and level of education was tested and correlation between knowledge about malaria and ITNs utilization was calculated. Nearly all mothers attending MCH/FP had knowledge about ITNs nets and used it, with majority, 82.5% of the respondents used it for protection and 75% knew the importance of ITNs which were for malaria prevention. A majority of mothers attending MCH/FP were aware of ITNs and used it. Malaria morbidity was influenced by various factors including frequency of ITN use and most respondents interviewed had contracted malaria once before. The difference was found to be highly statistically significant between the overall knowledge about ITN use and malaria attack and level of education (χ² = 58.7, p = 0.000). There was a significantly moderate positive correlation between total knowledge and ITN utilization (r = 0.449 & p = 0.000). The same was for the frequency of use but it was found to be in a weak magnitude, (r = 0.223 & p = 0.000). There was a strong positive correlation between knowledge about risk which is exposed to the case of non-utilization and the overall knowledge (r = 0.853 & p = 0.000). Based on the above results, it’s recommended that the Ministry of Health increase knowledge of effective malaria prevention and treatment methods in communities where misconceptions and use of unproven prevention and treatment methods are common.

Keywords

Malaria, Insect Treated Nets (ITNs), Mother Child Health and Family Planning (MCH & FP), Indoor Residual Spraying, Integrated Vector Management

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MPHS) (2007) Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey. Division of Malaria Control MPHS, Nairobi.
[2]	NHSSP (2005) Reversing the Trends: The Second National Health Sector Strategic Plan of Kenya. Nairobi.
[3]	KDHS (Kenya Demographic and Health Survey) (2008) Demographic and Health Survey Fact Sheet. Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Nairobi.
[4]	KMIS (2007) Malaria Indicator Survey in Kenya. Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Nairobi.
[5]	Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MPHS) (2009) Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey. Division of Malaria Control MPHS, Nairobi.
[6]	Wylie, B.J., Singh, N., Tuchman, J., Sabin, L., Singh, M.P., Brooks, M.I., Yeboah-Antwi, K., Mac Leod, W.B. and Hamer, D.H. (2007) Abstract 535.56th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Philadelphia: Knowledge, Availability, and Utilization of Malaria Prevention Measures during Pregnancy in Jharkland, India.
[7]	Gunasekaran, K., Sahu, S.S., Vijayakumar, K.N. and Jambulingam, P. (2009) Acceptability, Willing to Purchase and Use Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets in Orissa State, India. Acta Tropic, 112, 149-155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.07.013
[8]	Oladokun, A., Oladokun, R.E. and Adesina, O.A. (2011) Knowledge and Utilization of Malaria Control Measures by Pregnant and Newly Delivered Mothers in Ibadan, Nigeria. African Health Science, 11, 573-577.
[9]	Dellicour, S., Tatem, A.J., Guerra, C.A., Snow, R.W. and ter Kuile, F.O. (2007) Quantifying the Number of Pregnancies at Risk of Malaria in a Demographic Study. PLoS Medicine, 7, e1000221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000221
[10]	WHO (2004) A Strategic Framework for Malaria Prevention and Control during Pregnancy in the African Region. AFR/MAL/04/01. WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville.
[11]	WHO (2008) Roll Back Malaria Partnership: The Global Malaria Action Plan. World Health Organization, Geneva.
[12]	WHO (2009) World Malaria Report, World Health Organization, Geneva.
[13]	Baume, C.A., Reithinger, R. and Wodeelhanna, S. (2009) Factors Associated with Use and Non-Use of Mosquito Nets Owned in Oromia and Amhara Regional States, Ethiopia. Malar Journal, 8, 264. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-8-264
[14]	Njagi, J.K. (2002) The Effects of Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine Intermittent Treatment and Pyrethroid Impregnated Bed Nets on Malaria Morbidity in Pregnancy and Birth Weight in Bondo District, Kenya. Dissertation, University of Nairobi, Nairobi.
[15]	Mabunda, S., Mathe, G., Streat, E., Nery, S. and Kilian, A. (2009) National Malaria Indicator Survey Mozambique (MI-2007). Ministry of Health, National Directorate of Health, Maputo.
[16]	(2013) Development Professional Network. www.guardian.com/global
[17]	Singh, N., Shukla, N.M. and Sharma, V.P. (1999) Epidemiology of Malaria in Pregnancy in Central India. Bulletin of World Health Organization, 77, 567-572.
[18]	Wylie, B.J., Singh, N., Tuchman, J., Sabin, L., Singh, M.P., Brooks, M.I., Yeboah-Antwi, K., Mac Leod, W.B. and Hamer, D.H. (2007) Abstract 535.56th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Philadelphia: Knowledge, Availability, and Utilization of Malaria Prevention Measures during Pregnancy in Jharkland, India.