Assessing the Coverage and use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets in the Kpone-on-Sea Township of the Graeter Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract

Malaria is a parasitic disease infecting millions of people on the globe annually, especially children less than five years of age and pregnant women. It is caused by any of the human malaria parasites including; Plasmodium falciparum, malariae, vivax and ovale of which Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous and dreaded malaria parasite. According to Ghana Health Service (GHS) health facility data, malaria is the number one cause of morbidity, accounting for about 38% of all outpatient illnesses, 36% of all admissions, and 33% of all deaths in children under five years old. Insecticide treated mosquito nets are currently one of the most viable options to prevent malaria transmission in Africa. Looking for practical solutions, W.H.O. stimulated industry to produce long lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLINs), using new bioactive fabric technologies; Long-lasting nets are treated only once, at factory level. This study assessed the National Malaria Control Programme‟s (NMCP) LLINs distribution and hanging campaign in Kpone–On–Sea Township. It sought to establish the coverage of LLINs in the community and its usage by children less than five years old and pregnant women. The cross-sectional study involved 400 households with heads of the households or their representatives as respondents and data was collected through questionnaire interviews and observational checklists. Results from the study indicated that out of 400 households 93.3% owned any type of net whiles 83.8% own LLIN and 74.9% used it. Households with children less than five years old accounted for 84.7% with regard to ownership whiles 69.3% for usage. LLIN possession by pregnant women was 84.8% whiles usage was 72.3%. The study also indicated that 73.8% of respondents had good knowledge of malaria, 21.2% had very good knowledge and 5.0 % had low knowledge. Furthermore, 89.5 % of the respondents had knowledge of LLIN. The findings further indicate that coverage of LLIN in the community is 83.9% and usage 74.9%, seven months after a free distribution and hanging campaign. This provides a useful assessment of the efficacy of NMCP‟s LLIN campaign in this community and suggests ways for improvement