How equitable is bed net ownership and utilisation in Tanzania? A practical application of the principles of horizontal and vertical equity
Abstract Background Studies show that the burden of malaria remains huge particularly in low-income settings. Although effective malaria control measures such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been promoted, relatively little is known about their equity dimension. Understanding variations in t...
Published in: | Malaria Journal |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2009
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-8-109 https://doaj.org/article/1e40012c44d64b218c44639b07cd18e2 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:1e40012c44d64b218c44639b07cd18e2 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:1e40012c44d64b218c44639b07cd18e2 2023-05-15T15:18:09+02:00 How equitable is bed net ownership and utilisation in Tanzania? A practical application of the principles of horizontal and vertical equity Goodman Catherine Matovu Fred Wiseman Virginia Mwengee William 2009-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-8-109 https://doaj.org/article/1e40012c44d64b218c44639b07cd18e2 EN eng BMC http://www.malariajournal.com/content/8/1/109 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-109 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/1e40012c44d64b218c44639b07cd18e2 Malaria Journal, Vol 8, Iss 1, p 109 (2009) Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2009 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-8-109 2022-12-31T09:15:40Z Abstract Background Studies show that the burden of malaria remains huge particularly in low-income settings. Although effective malaria control measures such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been promoted, relatively little is known about their equity dimension. Understanding variations in their use in low-income settings is important for scaling up malaria control programmes particularly ITNs. The objective of this paper is to measure the extent and causes of inequalities in the ownership and utilisation of bed nets across socioeconomic groups (SEGs) and age groups in Tanga District, north-eastern Tanzania. Methods A questionnaire was administered to heads of 1,603 households from rural and urban areas. Households were categorized into SEGs using both an asset-based wealth index and education level of the household head. Concentration indices and regression-based measures of inequality were computed to analyse both vertical and horizontal inequalities in ownership and utilisation of bed nets. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were used to explore community perspectives on the causes of inequalities. Results Use of ITNs remained appallingly low compared to the RBM target of 80% coverage. Inequalities in ownership of ITNs and all nets combined were significantly pro-rich and were much more pronounced in rural areas. FGDs revealed that lack of money was the key factor for not using ITNs followed by negative perceptions about the effect of insecticides on the health of users. Household SES, living within the urban areas and being under-five were positively associated with bed net ownership and/or utilisation. Conclusion The results highlight the need for mass distribution of ITN; a community-wide programme to treat all untreated nets and to promote the use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal nets (LLINs) or longer-lasting treatment of nets. The rural population and under-fives should be targeted through highly subsidised schemes and mass distribution of free nets. Public campaigns are also needed to encourage people ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Malaria Journal 8 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
spellingShingle |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Goodman Catherine Matovu Fred Wiseman Virginia Mwengee William How equitable is bed net ownership and utilisation in Tanzania? A practical application of the principles of horizontal and vertical equity |
topic_facet |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background Studies show that the burden of malaria remains huge particularly in low-income settings. Although effective malaria control measures such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been promoted, relatively little is known about their equity dimension. Understanding variations in their use in low-income settings is important for scaling up malaria control programmes particularly ITNs. The objective of this paper is to measure the extent and causes of inequalities in the ownership and utilisation of bed nets across socioeconomic groups (SEGs) and age groups in Tanga District, north-eastern Tanzania. Methods A questionnaire was administered to heads of 1,603 households from rural and urban areas. Households were categorized into SEGs using both an asset-based wealth index and education level of the household head. Concentration indices and regression-based measures of inequality were computed to analyse both vertical and horizontal inequalities in ownership and utilisation of bed nets. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were used to explore community perspectives on the causes of inequalities. Results Use of ITNs remained appallingly low compared to the RBM target of 80% coverage. Inequalities in ownership of ITNs and all nets combined were significantly pro-rich and were much more pronounced in rural areas. FGDs revealed that lack of money was the key factor for not using ITNs followed by negative perceptions about the effect of insecticides on the health of users. Household SES, living within the urban areas and being under-five were positively associated with bed net ownership and/or utilisation. Conclusion The results highlight the need for mass distribution of ITN; a community-wide programme to treat all untreated nets and to promote the use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal nets (LLINs) or longer-lasting treatment of nets. The rural population and under-fives should be targeted through highly subsidised schemes and mass distribution of free nets. Public campaigns are also needed to encourage people ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Goodman Catherine Matovu Fred Wiseman Virginia Mwengee William |
author_facet |
Goodman Catherine Matovu Fred Wiseman Virginia Mwengee William |
author_sort |
Goodman Catherine |
title |
How equitable is bed net ownership and utilisation in Tanzania? A practical application of the principles of horizontal and vertical equity |
title_short |
How equitable is bed net ownership and utilisation in Tanzania? A practical application of the principles of horizontal and vertical equity |
title_full |
How equitable is bed net ownership and utilisation in Tanzania? A practical application of the principles of horizontal and vertical equity |
title_fullStr |
How equitable is bed net ownership and utilisation in Tanzania? A practical application of the principles of horizontal and vertical equity |
title_full_unstemmed |
How equitable is bed net ownership and utilisation in Tanzania? A practical application of the principles of horizontal and vertical equity |
title_sort |
how equitable is bed net ownership and utilisation in tanzania? a practical application of the principles of horizontal and vertical equity |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-8-109 https://doaj.org/article/1e40012c44d64b218c44639b07cd18e2 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Malaria Journal, Vol 8, Iss 1, p 109 (2009) |
op_relation |
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/8/1/109 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-109 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/1e40012c44d64b218c44639b07cd18e2 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-8-109 |
container_title |
Malaria Journal |
container_volume |
8 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1766348387650633728 |