Barriers to sustained use of the insecticide treated bed net in the upper east region of Ghana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20170280Keywords:
Endemic, Insecticide treated bed net, Malaria, UsageAbstract
Background: Barriers to sustainable use of the insecticide treated bed nets are responsible for the high incidence of malaria with a concomitant burden on the health delivery system in Ghana. The ITN has proven to be one of the most cost effective means of preventing malaria. This study identified the barriers to the sustainable use of the insecticide treated bed nets in the upper east region.
Methods: This was a mixed cross sectional descriptive study that used data from household representatives and interviews with malaria control officers in three randomly selected districts of the region.
Results: The study identified that apart from sleeping under the ITN and using it as window curtains and provision of warmth during cold weathers, the ITN is put in to other uses like nursing of seedlings, protecting chickens, fishing and fencing of animal pens. Major barriers to sustained use of the ITN included over complacency and the influence of male dominance. Cost of ITN, room shape and size, design of the ITN were identified as minor barriers to the use of the ITN.
Conclusions: Health care practitioners, social environmental officers and preventive health care services providers should use behavior change communication methods in curtailing most of these barriers to the sustainable use of the ITN.Metrics
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