Utilization of Insecticide Treated Bed Nets among Mothers Attending MCH/FP in Webuye District Hospital, Bungoma County, Kenya

Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Kenya, with close to 70 percent (24 million) of the population at risk of infection. It affects people of all age groups: children under five years of age and pregnant women living in malaria endemic regions who are vulnerable. The main objective was to assess the utilization of the insecticide treated bed nets among the mothers attending MCH/FP in Webuye District Hospital, Bungoma County, Kenya. This research was based at the Webuye District Hospital, Bungoma County, Kenya from February to May, 2013. Sample size included 40 adult mothers attending MCH/FP aged 18 years and above during the study period. The design of the study was cross-sectional where sampling technique employed was non-probabilistic, purposive sampling. Data was collected by interviews using structured questionnaire which was administered by the researchers. SPSS version 16 was employed in Data analysis. The association between the overall knowledge about ITN use and malaria attack and level of education was tested and correlation between knowledge about malaria and ITNs utilization was calculated. Nearly all mothers attending MCH/FP had knowledge about ITNs nets and used it, with majority, 82.5% of the respondents used it for protection and 75% knew the importance of ITNs which were for malaria prevention. A majority of mothers attending MCH/FP were aware of ITNs and used it. Malaria morbidity was influenced by various factors including frequency of ITN use and most respondents interviewed had contracted malaria once before. The difference was found to be highly statistically significant between the overall knowledge about ITN use and malaria attack and level of education (χ2 = 58.7, p = 0.000). There was a significantly moderate positive correlation between total knowledge and ITN utilization (r = 0.449 & p = 0.000). The same was for the frequency of use but it was found to be in a weak magnitude, (r = 0.223 & p = 0.000). There was a strong positive correlation between knowledge about risk which is exposed to the case of non-utilization and the overall knowledge (r = 0.853 & p = 0.000). Based on the above results, it’s recommended that the Ministry of Health increase knowledge of effective malaria prevention and treatment methods in communities where misconceptions and use of unproven prevention and treatment methods are common.

河南省淮滨县实施全球基金疟疾项目效果的评价

[目的]评价河南省淮滨县2003～2005年实施全球基金疟疾项目期间的疟疾疫情、防治措施及防治效果。[方法]收集淮滨县2003～2005年疟疾流行、防治措施、防治效果及媒介监测资料,分析流行情况,评价防治措施及效果。[结果]2003～2005年淮滨县共报告疟疾病例1765例,平均年发病率为8.93/万。2004年和2005年疟疾发病分别比上年下降53.58%和72.04%。建立发热病人镜检站18个,血检发热病人39070人,发现650例阳性病人。捕获中华按蚊4744只,未发现嗜人按蚊,疟疾暴发发点氟氯氰菊酯药物浸泡蚊帐340顶。氯、伯喹治疗现症病人1765人,休止期服药7571人,流行季节预防服药2471人。培训专业技术116人次,疟防宣传6259份,督导检查108次。居民和中小学生疟防知识知晓率由2003年的14.36%和9.36%提高到2004年的54.21%和47.36%。2005年144例疟疾病人平均确诊时间(2.82±2.89d)显著低于河南省的平均确诊时间(6.64±10.49d)(单样本t检验,t=-15.844,P=0.000)。[结论]在全球基金疟疾项目的支持下,河南省淮滨县疟防工作成绩显著,以项目管理促进疟防的方式值得推广。

中缅边境两个少数民族居民蚊帐使用情况及其影响因素

目的 了解佤族和拉祜族居民蚊帐使用情况及其影响因素 ,探讨促进蚊帐使用和推广杀虫剂浸泡蚊帐 (ITNs)的方法。方法 问卷调查 ,对资料采用 Epi Info 2 0 0 0进行统计学处理。结果 佤族和拉祜族经常或有时使用蚊帐的分别占 2 .8%和 4 .8% ;而没有蚊帐的分别占 6 7.7%和5 9.7% ;L ogistic多因素回归分析结果证实 ,大部分有蚊帐者不经常使用蚊帐防蚊的原因与当地居民缺乏疟疾预防知识有关。结论 两个少数民族中的蚊帐覆盖率和使用率均很低 ,健康教育、交流沟通和市场营销等是促进蚊帐和 ITNs的使用的适当策略。

河南省1990～2005年疟疾疫情及防治效果评价

目的分析河南省1990～2005年疟疾流行情况,评价疟疾防治措施及防治效果。方法收集河南省1990～2005年疟疾流行、防治措施、防治效果及媒介监测、发热病人血检、血清学调查资料进行统计分析。结果16年间河南省共进行传播休止期治疗80.27万人次,流行季节服药治疗76.43万人次,治疗疟疾现症病人和疑似病人43891人次。1990～1992年和1996～1999年共用杀虫剂处理蚊帐133.28万顶,保护人群199.93万人次。发热病人血检1121.61万人次,阳性率为0.10%(11213/1121.61),占全部报告病例的29.01%。1990～2000年间接荧光抗体试验(IFAT)检测34846人次,阳性率为3.30%(1149/34846)。1993～1999年调查当地居民71234人次,带虫率为0.40%(286/71234)。河南省主要的疟疾传播媒介为中华按蚊和嗜人按蚊,叮人习性分别为0.0608和0.3143,媒介能量嗜人按蚊是中华按蚊的22.4倍。1990～2005年全省共报告疟疾病例38654例,平均年发病率为2.62/10万,其中1992年发病318例,当年发病率为0.37/10万,为历史最低点。70.05%(27076/38654)的病例分布在嗜人按蚊和中华按蚊共存的复合媒介地区。结论河南省疟疾防治措施得当,有效控制疟疾发病,但部分地区疫情不稳定,局部暴发点不断出现,疟疾控制工作仍十分艰巨。

Assessment of household ownership of bed nets in areas with and without artemisinin resistance containment measures in Myanmar

Background:Myanmar lies in the Greater Mekong Subregion where there is artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria.As the artemisinin compound is the pillar of effective antimalarial therapies,containing the spread of artemisinin resistance is a national and global priority.The use of insecticide-treated bed nets/long-lasting insecticidal nets(ITNs/LLINs)is the key intervention for ensuring the reduction of malaria transmission and the spread of resistant strains,and for eventually eliminating malaria.This study aimed at assessing household ownership of,access to,and utilization of bed nets in areas of Myanmar with and without artemisinin resistance containment measures.Methods:Secondary data from a nationwide community-based malaria survey conducted by the National Malaria Control Program in 2014 were analyzed.Based on evidence of artemisinin resistance,Myanmar was divided into tiers 1,2,and 3:townships in tiers 1 and 2 were aggregated as the Myanmar Artemisinin Resistance Containment(MARC)areas and were compared with tier 3 townships,which were defined as non-MARC areas.The chi-square test was used to compare groups,and the level of significance was set at P≤0.05.Results:Of the 6328 households assessed,97.2%in both MARC and non-MARC areas had at least one bed net(any type),but only 63%of households had ITNs/LLINs.Only 44%of households in MARC areas and 24%in non-MARC areas had adequate numbers of ITNs/LLINs(one ITN/LLIN per two persons,P<0.001).Nearly 44%of household members had access to ITNs/LLINs.Regarding the utilization of ITNs/LLINs,45%of household members used them in MARC areas and 36%used them in non-MARC areas(P<0.001,desired target=100%).Utilization of ITNs/LLINs among children aged below five years and pregnant women(high malaria risk groups)was low,at 44%and 42%,respectively.Conclusions:This study highlights the nationwide shortfalls in the ownership of,access to,and utilization of ITNs/LLINs in Myanmar,which is of particular concern in terms of containing the spread of artemisinin resistance.It highlights the need for priority attention to be paid and mobilization of resources in order to improve bed net coverage and utilization through bed net distribution and/or social marketing,information dissemination,and awareness-raising.

Knowledge and Perceived Barriers towards Intermittent Prevention of Malaria in Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Intermittent prevention of malaria is a key strategy adopted globally to ensure the wellbeing of pregnant women. By extension, these strategies enhance the healthy development of the fetus. This study assesses the knowledge and practices of pregnant women towards intermittent malaria prevention strategies in the Juaben Government Hospital of Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive survey was conducted among 120 pregnant women at the antenatal clinic of the Juaben Government hospital in the Ashanti region of Ghana using a simple random sampling technique in selecting the study participants. The participant response rate was 94.5%. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Results: Majority (54.2%) of respondents were between 20 - 29 years of age. Majority of study respondents attended Antenatal visits in their first trimester of pregnancy. Majority (69.2%) have knowledge of malaria preventive strategies in pregnancy, with about 70% of respondents stating these strategies were designed only for pregnant women. Only 37.5% of study respondents could rightly identify the chemoprophylaxis indicated for malaria prevention in pregnancy. Whereas majority (93.3%) of respondents owned insecticide-treated mosquito nets, only 63.3% utilized these nets for their purpose. Barriers to utilization of insecticide-treated nets include difficulty in setting up the nets (26.7%), using mosquito coils (10.8%), and feeling uncomfortable sleeping in the nets (36.7%). Barriers to taking malaria prophylaxis include distance to health facilities (28.3%), thoughts of not being sick with malaria (55.8%), using herbs (10.0%), and not being aware of the essence of prophylaxis (7.5%). Conclusion: Knowledge of malaria preventive strategies in pregnancy is high. However, utilization of these strategies is low due to perceived human and institutional barriers. A comprehensive community-wide approach is required to improve the utilization of these services among pregnant women.