Abstract:
Background: Malaria remain a major public health problem in the world. An estimated 228 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide in 2018 compared with 251 million cases in 2010 and 231 million cases in 2017. The ownership and use of treated mosquito nets is the primary prevention strategy for reducing malaria transmission in Ethiopia, and since 2005 Ethiopia has been using LLINs. However, the nation-wide LLIN ownership (proportion of households with at least one LLIN) has been relatively low, 65% in 2007, 55% in 2011 and 64% in 2015.
Objective: the aim of this study was to assess LLIN utilization and factor affecting its utilization in the study area.
Methods: a community based cross-sectional study was used to assess LLIN utilization and factor affecting its utilization in East Hararghe Zone Eastern Ethiopia. Data collected for the study of targeted mass drug administration and reactive case detection as a baseline were used for this study. Study sample size was 960 HHs and HHs are selected using simple random sampling techniques. Data analysis and extraction were done using SPSS version 20. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the presence of statistically significant association between outcome variable and independent variables.
Result: Of the total 936 surveyed households, 68.3% with 95% CI (65.3% - 71.5%) had at least one LLIN and 43.5% with 95% CI (39.4% - 47.7%) LLINs owned households had used at least one LLIN the night before the survey. factor significantly associated with LLIN utilization were Female headed HH (AOR 1.82 95% CI 1.18 – 2.81), HH with 3 or more LLIN (AOR 1.69, 95% CI, 1.07 – 2.68, number of sleeping space in the households, material roof of houses made from and wealth index of HHs.
Conclusion and recommendation: The study concluded that low LLIN ownership and utilization of HH. About 56.5% of HH own LLIN are not utilizing LLIN and factor significantly associated with LLIN utilization like number of LLIN HH own, number of LLIN per sleeping space should be focused by Zonal Health office, regional health bureau, Ministry of Health and other concerned bodies....................... Thesis available at ACIPH Library