Factors Influencing Utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets Among Children Under Five Years In Kpone-On-Sea Township of Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Children under five years are among the vulnerable group mostly affected by morbidity and mortality due to malaria. Among the malaria preventive intervention, insecticide treated net (1m) has emerged as an efficacious tool that has proved effective in reducing malaria transmission and increasing child survival. Therefore, its utilization has been recommended by the World Health Organisation especially among vulnerable groups including children under five years. Significant investment into scaling up of ITN has been done but achieving actual utilization among beneficiaries is still a challenge in malaria endemic regions including Ghana. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess factors influencing utilization of ITNs among children under five years of age at Kpone-On-Sea in the Kpone Katamanso District near Tema. Method: A cross- sectional community based study was done using mixed methods. A sample of 325 caregivers with children under five years randomly selected was used for the quantitative .... of the study and for the qualitative arm, six in-depth interviews with relevant leaders and two focus group discussions with care givers of children under five years were conducted. Result: Findings from the study indicated that the proportion of children sleeping under ITNs was 91%', Factors' associated with ITN utilization among children under five were: caregiver's ~~~ ,"'(-d~iQ1l (p<O.Ol), their awareness that children under five years are most at risk of malaria (p<O.05), knowledge that ITN protect against mosquito bite (p<O.02) knowledge on the importance of INT's in preventing malaria (p<O.Ol), ITN ownership (p<O.03), type of ITN (p<O.02) and the period within which respondents uses ITN (p<O.OO). Coaeluioos: Knowledge on malaria and it's prevention and the ownership of ITN among care-givers at the Kpone community were alQ10st universal. These translated into high utilization of INT's among children under five in the community.