Factors associated with non-use of insecticide-treated bed nets among pregnant women in Zambia

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Luwi Mercy Mwangu, Relebogile Mapuroma, Latifat Ibisomi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2022
• Subjects: Zambia; Zambian Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS); Non-use of ITNs; Prevalence; Factors associated with; Pregnant women; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04313-4; https://doaj.org/article/1cf14086607c4f77ae58b11c05252d29

Abstract Background Despite the Zambian government’s efforts to ensure 80% use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) among pregnant women, ITN use remains critically low. Only 49% of pregnant women reported sleeping under an ITN in 2018 in the country. This study aims to determine the prevalence of, and the factors associated with the non-use of ITNs among pregnant women in Zambia. Methods This study was a secondary analysis of the data collected during the 2018 Zambian Demographic and Health Survey. One thousand one hundred and thirty-eight (1 138) pregnant women were included in the study. The prevalence of the non-use of ITNs was computed and univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to determine the factors associated with the non-use of ITNs in the study population. Results The study found that 578 (50.8%) pregnant women reported not using an ITN the night before the survey. The results of the multivariable logistic regression indicated that, primary level education (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.23–3.68), ITN per household member (OR = 0.01, 95% CI 0.00–0.02), parity (OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.70–0.99), moderate malaria prevalence provinces (OR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.23–0.50), high malaria prevalence provinces (OR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.18–0.39) and currently in a union (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.30–0.88) were significantly associated with the non-use of ITNs. Conclusion This study showed a high prevalence of the non-use of ITNs among pregnant women in Zambia. Factors found to be associated with the non-use of ITNs in the study population are: ITN per household member, parity, education, marital status and malaria prevalence provinces. Addressing the identified factors will require intensification of ITN programming and other malaria preventive measures.