The use of insecticide-treated bed net in a semi-urban community in south-south, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) is currently being rigorously promoted as a tool for malaria control. This study was to find out whether the buyers of the ITN sold by a social marketing programme in a semi-urban community in south-south Nigeria, did so because they wanted to prevent malaria or control the nuisance of mosquito.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study design was used to assess adherence. The proper deployment of the nets was directly observed in the houses of the buyers just before dawn, between March and April, 2004, when the night-time temperature is hottest and the nuisance of mosquito is at the lowest in the community. Study participants were also asked, in an unstructured interview, possible means why the ITN might not be deployed.


RESULTS
Out of the 268 ITNs bought by the households visited, only 49 (18.28%) of the nets were found to be properly deployed during the monitoring visit. Most of these nets (53.06%) were occupied by under-five children that slept with their parents on bed. The probability of proper deployment of the net was poorer when users slept on mat, than when they slept on bed (P < 0.05). The reasons given why under-five children might not use the net include: hot night time temperature (63%), no mosquitoes (43%) and "forgot to put up the net" (33%).


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that despite the rigorous promotion of ITN for malaria control, its use is still determined mostly by the abundance of mosquitoes and night-time temperature.
Ordinioha
B
B
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt.
D000818:Animals; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D003153:Community Health Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D009033:Culicidae; D004522:Educational Status; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D026023:Permethrin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D040241:Social Marketing; D014505:Urban Population
D007306:Insecticides; D026023:Permethrin