Factors influencing the use of bed nets in Mbarara municipality of Uganda.

Abstract

Abstract. In order to identify independent predictors for bed net use, respondents from 643 households selected randomly from 21 clusters were interviewed in Mbarara municipality, Uganda. Respondents answered questions about demographic characteristics, social economic conditions, causes and transmission of malaria, beliefs about severity and complications of malaria, malaria morbidity and health care-seeking behavior, perceived control of malaria prevention, beliefs about utility of bed nets, perceived susceptibility to malaria, and whether they use bed nets or not. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors for bed net use. Fifty-five percent (356 of 643) of the households had bed net users. The independent factors that favored bed net use were as follows: 1) age Ͻ 30 years, 2) ownership of a television, 3) having mosquito nets in ventilators of the house, 4) being a skilled worker or a professional, or owning a major business, 5) living in a permanent house, 6) believing that bed nets prevent malaria, 7) believing that bed nets are worth their cost, 8) not believing that convulsions cannot be cured by modern medicine, and 9) believing that bed nets are not expensive. The strongest predictors of bed net use are living in a permanent house and agreeing that bed nets are worth their cost, with adjusted odds ratios of 4.29 (95% confidence interval, 2.76-6.71) and 3.93 (95% confidence interval, 2.5-26.13), respectively. These data suggest that in order to increase the use of bed nets, the price of bed nets needs to be reduced and educational messages that stress the favorable use of bed nets need to be increased.

Factors associated with delayed diagnosis of HIV infection in Mukono district, Uganda

“…This can be further supported by results from other studies in Uganda (e.g. for malaria) where younger people were reported to be early innovators of new programmes and technologies (14). On the other hand since infected people may live for many years before developing AIDS defining signs and symptoms, the association could reflect a recent infection with HIV in young clients than the older clients.…”

“…In Uganda where clients pay fees for HIV testing, the routinely advertised free days for certain groups attract hundred of clients (15). This is further supported by another study done in Uganda on use of bed nets which reported cost of an item or service as a factor influencing health seeking behaviour and use of treatment and preventive strategies in Uganda (14). This could also be related to the poverty level, given that 38% of the population in Uganda earn less than one US dollar a day, no much saving would be left to pay for the HIV test even at the current subsidised fee of 1.14 US dollars.…”

“…Other studies in Uganda demonstrated similar association with married people having a high likelihood of undertaking VCT (6,14). It is worthy noting that prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV infection programmes is widely implemented in Uganda.…”

Factors influencing the usage of different types of malaria prevention methods during pregnancy in Kenya

“…8 It has been argued in previous literature that there is a need to understand factors which influence the use of ITNs and IPTp. 18 This study examined the effects of several demographic, socioeconomic and empowerment determinants influencing the use of different types malaria prevention measures during pregnancy.…”

Assessing the Effect of a Combined Malaria Prevention Education and Free Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets Program on Self-Reported Malaria Among Children in a Conflict-Affected Setting in Northern Uganda

“…About 26 percent of households in the nation own at least one ITN, but significant disparities exist between urban and rural residents (MOH and ORC Macro, 2006). One key constraint to net ownership in Uganda, as in other parts of the sub-Saharan region, is limited affordability (Kachur, Phillips-Howard, Odhacha, Ruebush, Oloo, & Nahlen, 1999;Nuwaha, 2001). In the case of Northern Uganda, the 20-year internal conflict has decimated the living conditions and economic viability of the residents, leading to their increased vulnerability to malaria and other illnesses.…”