Barriers and Enhancers to Usage of Long-lasting Insecticide Nets in the Prevention and Control of Malaria in Tsholotsho District, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe, 2022

Abstract

fer from malaria disease A self-administered questionnaire interrogated the availability, extend of usage of Long-Lasting insecticide nets and barriers to usage of the nets. Factors associated with the utilization of LLINs were computed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis in SPSS 22.0. Overally 318 participants were included in the study comprising 169 females (53%) and 149 males (47%). By proportion gender, age, marital status, educational levels were found to be significant factors associated with bed net usage. Though knowledge on malaria disease and the importance of bed usage were very significant factors promoting bed net usage, other factors like heat, irritation from insecticide and difficulties in hanging the nets were confounding. Variables that were associated with the use of Long-lasting insecticide nets were bed net size fitting on the sleeping facility to avoid itchiness (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.0; 95% CI: 1.96-8.07; p =0.001, challenges hanging the bed net (OR=0.6; 95% CI: 0.35-1.01; p =0.053), education level (OR=1.6; 95% CI: 0.7—3.9; p = 0.469. This study also identifies a list of enhancers to bed net usage in homes. The researcher recommends further research on the approach and quality of health education on malaria disease and net usage to develop evidence based standard health education guidelines in all languages on malaria disease and net usage use.