Ownership and usage of insecticide-treated nets in Ghana: a scoping review of facilitators and barriers

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Patience Fakornam Doe, Andrews Adjei Druye, Theodora Dedo Azu, Christian Makafui Boso, Isaac Tetteh Commey, Dorcas Frempomaa Agyare, Joyce Agyeiwaa, Gifty Osei Berchie, Rita Opoku-Danso, Gifty Owusu, Naomi Kyeremaa Yeboa, Seth Selassie Dzah, Anita Efua Davis, Godson Obeng Ofori, William Akoto-Buabeng, Frank Offei Odonkor, Amidu Alhassan, Thomas Boateng Gyan, Christiana Okantey, Jerry Paul Ninnoni, Irene Korkoi Aboh, Susanna Aba Abraham, Mustapha Amoadu
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2024
• Subjects: Insecticide treated net; Ownership; Utilisation; Scoping review; Ghana; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-024-05072-0; https://doaj.org/article/819b5b8258ec4da8ac0cbd22471d96ec

Abstract Background Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are pivotal tools for malaria prevention in endemic regions like Ghana. Understanding the protective factors and barriers influencing ITN ownership and usage is crucial for designing effective interventions. A scoping review was conducted to identify studies exploring protective factors and barriers related to ITN ownership and usage. Methods This review followed the guidelines by Askey and O’Malley. Search was done in four major databases including PubMed, Science Direct, PubMed CENTRAL, and JSTOR. Additional searches were done in Google Scholar and Google. Peer-reviewed and grey literature were included. Results A total of 24 papers met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Included studies found regional disparities in ITN ownership and usage. Furthermore, included studies reported ownership rates between 97.8 and 28% and usage rates between 94 and 20%. Protective factors facilitating ITN ownership were marital status, higher educational attainment, higher income levels, and being aged 25 years or older. In contrast, the factors for its use included community-level campaigns advocating for ITN use and awareness, individuals with secondary education or higher and those residing in urban areas. Missed opportunities in free distribution exercises and the unavailability of subsidized ITNs at health facilities were barriers to ownership. Conclusion Understanding and addressing protective factors and barriers influencing ITN ownership and usage are crucial for enhancing malaria prevention strategies and achieving sustainable progress in combating malaria in endemic areas. Collaborative and evidence-based interventions are essential for addressing these challenges effectively.