Use of Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Net among Pregnant Women and Guardians of Children under Five in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

Background Insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) are one of the most effective tools for preventing malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective This study examined knowledge, attitude, and practice on the use of ITNs in the prevention of malaria among pregnant women and guardians of children under five in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Methods A total of 5,138 pregnant women and guardians of children under five were interviewed. Results The majority of participants (>80%) knew the signs and symptoms of malaria; 81.6% reported having an ITN in the household, but 78.4% reported using it the night before the interview. Only 71.4% of pregnant women used ITN the night compared to 68.2% of children under five. In the Logistic Regression model, women who believed that it is normal to use ITNs were 1.9 times more likely to use it than those who did not (OR: 1.930); women who were confident in their abilities to use ITNs were 1.9 times more likely than those who were not confident (OR: 1.915); and women who had a good attitude towards ITNs were also more likely to use ITNs compared to those who did not (OR: 1.529). Conclusion New and innovative evidence-based behavior change interventions are needed to increase the utilization of ITNs among vulnerable groups.

Trend of declining bed net utilization among pregnant women in Ethiopia: new data from the Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance System, 2010–2016

“…This finding is in line with the study finding in Northern Uganda (35%) [11]. However, the finding is lower than the study finding from Bungoma Kenya (82.5%), South Eastern Nigeria (90.5%), Kilifi Kenya (70.5%), Democratic Republic of Congo (78.4%), in Eastern Ethiopia (62.4%), in Itang Ethiopia (52.3%) [9,10,13,14,16,20,21]. The possible explanation for the discrepancy could be the government of Ethiopia has invested a lot to eradicate malaria, as a result, the magnitude of malaria infection in Ethiopia declined which make them give less attention to malaria prevention and the use of bed nets.…”

“…Studies in different areas of Nigeria showed that utilization of bed nets among pregnant women is 44.2% in Ibadan, 35.3% in Imo, 21.3% in Edo state, and 44% nationwide [9][10][11][12]. Utilization of bed nets among pregnant women in Bungoma County Kenya is 82.5%, Kilifi district, Kenya is 70.5%, in Gulu Uganda is 35%, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is 78.4%, in the Buea Health District, Cameroon is 83.4%, Ghana is 20%, and Sudan is 11.5% [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. In different parts of Ethiopia bed net utilization among pregnant women indicated that 72.5% in Damot Pulasa District, 23.2% in Oromia and Amhara Region, 73.3% in Eastern Ethiopia, 52.3% in Itang, Gambella region [3,7,9,19].…”

Insecticide Treated Net Ownership, Utilization and Knowledge of Malaria in Children Residing in Batoke-Limbe, Mount Cameroon Area: Effect on Malariometric and Haematological Indices

“…These ndings are in line with those of Fokam et al [5] who reported that, there was a negative association between bed net ownership and utilisation by households as bed net ownership was high and utilisation of these nets was low. Furthermore, Inungu et al [55] in a study in the Democratic Republic of Congo reported lower utilization rates although ownership proportions were quite high (81.6%). These ndings are not in conformity with those of Ntonifor and Veyufambom [6], where in a study carried out in the high western plateau part of the country observed that, most of the respondents that had nets usually sleep under them.…”

Knowledge, motivation, self-efficacy, and their association with insecticidal net use among pregnant women in a secondary health centre in Maiduguri, Nigeria

“…It is believed to play a great role in determining how much a person is able to cope with, and sustain efforts to perform a task, in the face of obstacles [ 32 ]. A study among women in the Democratic Republic of Congo revealed that higher self-efficacy for ITN use was a predictor of its use [ 33 ]. Those who were confident of being able to hang or use an ITN were also more likely to sleep under it, compared to those who were not [ 34 ].…”

“…As previous studies have pointed out the important roles knowledge [ 35 , 36 ], motivation [ 37 ] and self-efficacy [ 33 , 34 ] play in influencing health behaviour, identifying the association between ITN use and these factors, would improve the present understanding of ITN use. It would also guide the development of more focused interventions to promote these practices, since individual items of these constructs would be studied.…”