Utilization of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets and Intermittent Preventive Treatment for under-5 children in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The serious burden of malaria infection and its devastating outcomes in under-five have made the prevention of the life-threatening disease an issue of priority. The World Health Organization's recommended Long Lasting Treated bed Nets (LLINs) and Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT)are public health interventions aimed at preventing and treating malaria episodes. The interventions build on two tested malaria control strategies, namely prevention of malaria and treatment to clear existing infection. Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the utilization of malarial LLINs and IPT for under-five children by parents in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive research design employed the use of a simple random technique to select 215 participants for the study. Thus, a self-administered questionnaire designed by the researchers was used to elicit responses from the participants. The administered questionnaires were retrieved from the participants on the spot after completion. Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from the UIIUCH Ethics Review Committee. All relevant ethical issues around the study were considered for strict adherence. The collected data were analyzed with the aid of computer software - Statistical Package of the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used, while the findings were presented in texts, tables and charts. Results: Findings from the study indicates that 82.3% of the respondents were aware of malaria infection, while 17.7% are unaware of malaria infection. It was also discovered that 55.8% of the participants stated that the cause of malaria was sunlight. Majority, 67.4% of the participants, claimed that they were used to make their under 5 children sleep under LLIN, while the rest, 32.6% had never made theirs to sleep under LLIN prior to the time of data collection. Conclusion: Malaria is a public health problem, which must be tackled at all levels, to ensure that more children do not come down with it. Therefore, stakeholders should promote appropriate and correct use of LLINs/lPT for under-5 children health information campaigns and supply of LLINs to the vulnerable population.