Factors Influencing the Utilisation of Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets Among Adults in Luwero Town Council, Luwero dDistrict, Uganda.

Abstract

Among malaria control measures, use of mosquito nets is the one that is getting more acceptances and is being used on large scale worldwide. Despite on going distribution and use of nets in Uganda, Luwero district inclusive, there is scanty information regarding the Utilization of ITNs in Luweero Town Council. This study sought to find out the factors influencing the utilization of mosquito nets among adults in Luwero Town council, so as to generate information that will help in malaria prevention and control.

A cross-sectional study design was used to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative data was collected using semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and observational checklists while qualitative data was obtained from key informants using interviewer-administered guides. Data obtained was analyzed using microsoft excel and presented as frequency tables, pie-charts and graphs.

More than half of the respondents (53.4.2%) were in the age bracket 41-50 years of whom (51.2%) were females. Overall, 88.4% adults knew the importance of ITNs as a Malaria prevention method. 278/371 (74.9%) respondents owned ITNs although majority of them 147/278 (64.7%) did not sleep under one yet (264/371)71.2% had suffered from malaria within the last one year. The main challenge associated with using the net was over heating (53%).

Despite the high levels of awareness of the importance of Insectide Treated mosquito Nets, the majority of adults of Luwero Town council reportedly don’t utilize ITNs. This group of adults therefore warrants more sensitization, provision of more free ITNs as a way more to curb down cases of malaria with in the region.