BACKGROUND
Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in malaria endemic
countries. About 3.2 billion people, nearly half of the world's population are at risk of
malaria but children under five years of age and pregnant women are at higher risk of
severe illness due to lowered immunity. In Ghana, Malaria tops Out Patients
Department (OPD) reported cases. According to Ghana Health Service (GHS) reports
malaria kills 3 children every day and accounted for about 38.1 % of all OPD
attendances, 36% of all admissions and 33 % of all deaths in the country in 2014.
Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) are identified as a core prevention tool recommended
by WHO to limit malaria burden in endemic countries.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess ITNs ownership and usage among care givers
of children under 5 years and pregnant women in Hohoe Township.
METHOD
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hohoe Township between May and June
2016. Data was collected from 403 households using structured questionnaire and an
observational checklist with face to face interviews.
RESULTS
The results indicated that out of 355 (88.1 %) who possessed ITNs, 272 (76.6 %) used
them the night prior to the survey. Of 403 study population 67.6% slept under an ITN
the night prior to the survey. The mean number of nets per household was 2.2. Out of
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the study population 403, majority 254 (63.0 %) had good knowledge of malaria signs
and symptoms, 79 (19.6%) and 66 (16.4 %) had very good and low knowledge of
malaria signs and symptoms respectively. Quite a number of households 210 (59.2 %)
asserted that ITNs generate heat, 120 (33.8 %) said it causes rashes, 27 (7.6 %) said it
is cumbersome to use.
There was a significant association of one’s religious status, number of pregnant women
in a household, pregnancy status, and marital status, length of stay in the community
and educational level of the respondents on the ownership and usage of ITN.
CONCLUSION
The ITN possession and utilization in Hohoe Municipality has improved especially
among households of caregivers of children under 5 years as a result of free mass ITN
distribution and hanging campaign in the Volta Region in 2014.