Insecticide Treated Net (ITN) Utilization and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women’s in Halaba Kulito Town, South Ethiopia, 2016: Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background:-Malaria remains to be a major problem causing an unacceptable toll on the health and economic welfare of world’s poorest communities. Globally, it is agreed to reduce the burden of malaria by half by the year 2010 and again by half by 2015. Similarly, at the African summit on Roll Back Malaria (RBM) in Abuja, committed themselves to halving the burden of malaria by 2010, by achieving 60% coverage of all at risk population with suitable curative and preventive measures by 2005. Ethiopia, as one of the signatories of the Abuja convention, has included the above global strategies in its national malaria prevention and control approach. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess Insecticide Treated Nets utilization and associated factors among pregnant women in Halaba kulito town, 2016. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was carried out among pregnant women in Halaba Kulito town. The study included 92 mothers who were selected by simple random sampling. Household survey using structured questionnaire was used to collect information. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with ITN utilization. Variables with a p-value <0.05 were identified as statistically significant factors. Results: Only 51 (70.8%) of pregnant women had self-reported as utilizing bed net during in previous night of survey. The direct observation done had shown that only 39 (42.4%) of pregnant women were directly observed while sleeping under bed net. Among this 19 (20.43%) of pregnant women’s properly utilize mosquito net. Conclusion: The time taken to reach health institution, the type of bed room condition and level of education were some of significant factors which were associated with ITN Utilization. Majority of the pregnant women did not utilize ITN. Therefore, the free distribution should prioritize vulnerable groups using good opportunity of Antenatal care clinic, household education and regular district level on going survey.