UTILIZATION OF INSECTICIDE TREATED NETS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINICS IN SELECTED HOSPITALS IN IGBO-EZE NORTH LOGAL GOVERNMENT AREA- ENUGU STATE- SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

According to World Health Organization (WHO) malaria report 2016, there were 212 million new cases of malaria and 429,000 estimated numbers of deaths worldwide in 2015; from this Africa accounts for 90% of malaria cases and 92% deaths. Globally, there is 29% reduction in mortality rate associated with malaria because of the expansion of prevention and control measures in 2010¹⁹. Sub Saharan Africa took the greatest portion of global malaria burden. This research was carried out on the utilization of insecticide treated nets among pregnant women in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, Enugu State-South East Nigeria. Three research objectives and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study.  Cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted for the study. A total of 200 pregnant women were selected through convenient sampling technique. Data were collected using a self structured questionnaire. Descriptive data were analyzed using frequency distribution tables while the hypotheses were tested with chi-square statistics. Results showed that 50% of the respondents were in their 2^nd trimester, 75% owned insecticide treated nets while only 45% always sleep under the insecticide treated nets. Some of the challenges identified include unavailability of the insecticide treated nets, high cost (if accessible from shops), unpleasant odour, discomfort, skin irritation and sleeping on the same bed with spouses who never wanted the insecticide treated nets. It was suggested that government at all level should make insecticide treated nets available, affordable and accessible to pregnant women, there should be a free distribution exercise and if it must be bought, it should be at a subsidized rate. It was concluded that the pregnant women in the study area had a high level of ownership of insecticide treated nets, with poor rate of utilization. Recommendations were made and suggestion for further study.