Sahel Medical Journal

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2010  |  Volume : 13  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 72--79

Perception and predictors of insecticide-treated net use in a rural northern nigerian community


Zubairu lliyasu, Auwalu Umar, Gajida Aminu, Suleiman Jahun 
 Departments of Community Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital & Bayero University Kano, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Zubairu lliyasu
Medical Research Consultancy Unit Department of Community Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, PMB 3452, Kano
Nigeria

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa carries a high burden of malaria. Despite evidence of the effectiveness of insecticide treated nets (ITNs), utilization rates are still low. Methods: We assessed community perception of malaria and determinants of lTN use among 158 households in rural northern Nigeria using interviewer administered structured questionnaires. Results: Nearly all respondents 157(99.4%) were familiar with the term �DQ�malaria�DQ� and attributed it to mosquito bite. Other mentioned causes of malaria included unclean environment (74%), heat (7%), overwork (1.9%), and contaminated water (0.6%). The symptoms mentioned included fever (95%), headache (52.5%), body weakness (41.1%) and vomiting (25.9%). Most respondents (84.0%) were aware of ITNs but only 34.8% used them. Willingness to buy at current market price, health workers as source of information and the use of mosquito coils were significant predictors of lTN use. Conclusion: High awareness of ITNs did not translate into its utilization. Public health education in malaria including free ITN use should be delivered by health workers.


How to cite this article:
lliyasu Z, Umar A, Aminu G, Jahun S. Perception and predictors of insecticide-treated net use in a rural northern nigerian community.Sahel Med J 2010;13:72-79


How to cite this URL:
lliyasu Z, Umar A, Aminu G, Jahun S. Perception and predictors of insecticide-treated net use in a rural northern nigerian community. Sahel Med J [serial online] 2010 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];13:72-79
Available from: https://www.smjonline.org/article.asp?issn=1118-8561;year=2010;volume=13;issue=4;spage=72;epage=79;aulast=lliyasu;type=0