Utilization of insecticide-treated nets and associated factors among childbearing women in Northern Nigeria

Abstract Background Studies have explored the correlates of insecticide-treated nets in Nigeria. The few studies that focused on Northern Nigeria mostly examined individual correlates, but largely ignored the community correlates. Also, the persistence of armed insurgencies in the region calls for m...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Malaria Journal
Main Authors: Bola Lukman Solanke, Daniel Alabi Soladoye, Ibrahim Adamu Birsirka, Anifat Abdurraheem, Omowumi Romoke Salau
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04620-4
https://doaj.org/article/7d20ad4e78f5429e8df96af85af5388b
Description
Summary:Abstract Background Studies have explored the correlates of insecticide-treated nets in Nigeria. The few studies that focused on Northern Nigeria mostly examined individual correlates, but largely ignored the community correlates. Also, the persistence of armed insurgencies in the region calls for more research attention. This study examines the utilization and the associated individual and community factors of insecticide-treated nets in Northern Nigeria. Methods The study adopted a cross-sectional design. Data were extracted from the 2021 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS). A weighted sample size of 6873 women was analysed. The outcome variable was the utilization of insecticide-treated nets. The explanatory variables selected at the individual/household level were maternal age, maternal education, parity, religion, sex of head of household, household wealth, and household size. The variables selected at the community level were the type of place of residence, geo-political zone of residence, the proportion of children under five who slept under a bed net, the proportion of women aged 15–49 who heard malaria media messages, and the community literacy level. Two variables, namely, the number of mosquito bed nets in the household, and the number of rooms used for sleeping were included for statistical control. Three multilevel mixed-effect regression models were fitted. Results The majority of childbearing women (71.8%) utilized insecticide-treated nets. Parity and household size were the significant individual/household characteristics associated with the utilization of insecticide-treated nets. The proportion of under-five children in the community who slept under mosquito bed nets, and the geopolitical zone of residence were significant community correlates of the use of insecticide-treated nets. In addition, the number of rooms for sleeping, and the number of mosquito bed nets in the households were significantly associated with the utilization of insecticide-treated nets. Conclusion Parity, household ...