INSECTICIDE TREATED BED NET OWNERSHIP AND UTILIZATION IN HOUSEHOLDS OF UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN IN MALARIA ENDEMIC AREAS IN NUH, HARYANA

Abstract

Context: Vector control is an effective way to prevent and reduce malaria transmission. If coverage of
Insecticide Treated Bed Net within a specic area is high enough (>80%), then a measure of protection
will be conferred across the community. To describe the ownership and utilization of Insecti Aims: cide Treated Bed Net in
households of under- ve children in rural areas. The study was community based cross sectional stud Settings And Design: y.
Methods and Material: The nal analysis was done on 440 households of under-ve children. The mothers were interviewed
with pre-designed, pre tested, semi-structured schedule. The data were analyzed usi Statistical Analysis Used: ng Epi-Info.
Descriptive statistics were used to summarize variables. Bivariate analysis and comparisons of proportions between groups
were analyzed using chi square (χ2) at 95% condence interval (CI). Out of 440 households, 305 household (69.3%) Results:
owned at least one LLIN, 173 household (39.3%) in which under-ve children slept under LLIN. Following explanatory variables
were statistically associated with under-ve children slept under LLIN in the previous night: household belonging to nuclear
family (OR = 1.92; CI [1.20-3.07]); Mothers received malaria prevention and control message in past month (OR = 1.65; CI [1.11-
2.45]); Mothers knew benets of bed net in the prevention of malaria (OR =2.56; CI [1.33-4.89]). Communication Conclusions:
programme with special focus on mothers for utilization of bed net should be well planned and implemented to achieve
elimination of malaria from India by 2030.