Insecticide Treated Nets as an Effective Malaria Control Strategy in Liberia

Type Thesis or Dissertation - Doctor of Philosophy
Title Insecticide Treated Nets as an Effective Malaria Control Strategy in Liberia
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2016
URL http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3115&context=dissertations
Abstract
Malaria is a vector-borne disease that presents the most persistent and serious public
health burden in Liberia. Numerous studies have examined the relationship between ITN
use and malaria prevalence. However, little research has explored the effectiveness of
ITNs in controlling malaria among children in postwar Liberia. The aim of this study was
to examine the association between ITN ownership, parental economic status, ITN
installation support, and malaria prevalence among children. This was a quantitative
cross-sectional study guided by the health belief model. The study used secondary data
from the 2011 Liberia Malaria Indicator Survey. Chi-square for association and Logistic
regression were used to analyze the data. The results revealed a significant association
between parental education and malaria prevalence. There was also a significant
association between parental economic status and malaria prevalence. However, there
was no significant association between ITN ownership and malaria prevalence after
controlling for parental education and ownership of structure. These findings may foster
social change by helping public health authorities in Liberia integrate ITN use with other
strategies like mosquito larvae elimination and indoor/outdoor insecticide spraying as
part of a comprehensive approach to malaria control. Additionally, massive awareness
and economic capacity building should be undertaken to empower malaria endemic
communities with the understanding that malaria can be rapidly reduced with other robust
strategies in combination with ITN use. These strategies, if implemented, may effectively
control malaria prevalence among children and the emotional and financial burdens
endure by their families.

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