Utilization Of Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Nets Among Caregivers Of Children Under-Five In Hohoe Township Of Ghana

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in malaria endemic countries. About 3.2 billion people, nearly half of the world's population are at risk of malaria but children under five years of age and pregnant women are at higher risk of severe illness due to lowered immunity. In Ghana, Malaria tops Out Patients Department (OPD) reported cases. According to Ghana Health Service (GHS) reports malaria kills 3 children every day and accounted for about 38.1 % of all OPD attendances, 36% of all admissions and 33 % of all deaths in the country in 2014. Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) are identified as a core prevention tool recommended by WHO to limit malaria burden in endemic countries. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess ITNs ownership and usage among care givers of children under 5 years and pregnant women in Hohoe Township. METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hohoe Township between May and June 2016. Data was collected from 403 households using structured questionnaire and an observational checklist with face to face interviews. RESULTS The results indicated that out of 355 (88.1 %) who possessed ITNs, 272 (76.6 %) used them the night prior to the survey. Of 403 study population 67.6% slept under an ITN the night prior to the survey. The mean number of nets per household was 2.2. Out of the study population 403, majority 254 (63.0 %) had good knowledge of malaria signs and symptoms, 79 (19.6%) and 66 (16.4 %) had very good and low knowledge of malaria signs and symptoms respectively. Quite a number of households 210 (59.2 %) asserted that ITNs generate heat, 120 (33.8 %) said it causes rashes, 27 (7.6 %) said it is cumbersome to use. There was a significant association of one’s religious status, number of pregnant women in a household, pregnancy status, and marital status, length of stay in the community and educational level of the respondents on the ownership and usage of ITN. CONCLUSION The ITN possession and utilization in Hohoe Municipality has improved especially among households of caregivers of children under 5 years as a result of free mass ITN distribution and hanging campaign in the Volta Region in 2014.