Evaluating the Relationship between Socio-Demographic Factors, Knowledge, Ownership and Usage of Long- Lasting Insecticide- Treated Bed Nets among Pregnant Mothers in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital
Published: 2020-07-06
Page: 43-54
Issue: 2020 - Volume 3 [Issue 1]
Felix C. Clement Wekere *
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Dango G. B. Kalio
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Paul L. Kua
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Rose S. Iwo-Amah
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Malaria is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and of public health concern. Long- lasting insecticide- treated bed nets (LLINs) is an effective method of prevention and control of malaria.
Aim: To determine the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics of antenatal clinic attendees and their knowledge, ownership and utilization of LLINs.
Methods: This was a secondary data analysis of a cross sectional study of 384 pregnant mothers receiving antenatal care in RSUTH over a 3-month period. Data were sorted, coded and analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. The association between socio-demographic characteristics, and knowledge, ownership and utilization of LLINs was carried out using Pearson Chi-square test and Fisher exact test where appropriate, at a statistical significance level of P < .05.
Results: Data of 384 pregnant women that participated in the study were analyzed. The strong predictors of knowledge of LLINs were participants’ educational status and religion (P < .001 and P < .001) respectively; followed by age [P = .010 (95%CI: .012, .016)] and occupation [P = .017 (95%CI: .020, .026)]. There was no significant association between ‘knowledge’, and parity [P = .37 (95% CI: .34, .36)], and gestational age [P = .35 (95% CI: .34, .36] of the participants. The strong predictors of ownership and utilization of LLINs were the participants’ age (P < .001) and occupation (P < .001); other statistically significant factors found were parity, educational status, and religion (P = .002, P = .015, P = .044) and (P = .007, P = .002, P = .024) respectively. Overall, there was no evidence of association between ownership and utilization of LLINs and gestational age [P = .212 (95% CI: .177, .192) and P = .392 (95% CI: .391, .410)] respectively.
Conclusion: Socio-demographic factors such as age, occupation, educational status and religion are predictors of knowledge, ownership and utilization of LLINs. As such, they are pertinent when planning enlightenment/ education programmes on the use of LLINs for malaria prevention and control.
Keywords: Malaria, long- lasting insecticide treated nets, pregnant women, predictors, public health, RSUTH