Kimbi Helen Kuokuo, Nkesa Sarah Bi, Ndamukong-Nyanga Judith Lum, Sumbele Irene Ule Ngole, Atashili Julius, Atanga Mary Bi Suh
Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, SWR, Cameroon.
BMC Res Notes. 2014 Sep 10;7:624. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-624.
Malaria remains a public health problem and the use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) against it in vulnerable groups (pregnant women and children <5 years) is recommended in Cameroon. This study was aimed at assessing the socio-demographic factors influencing the ownership and utilization of ITNs among vulnerable groups in the Buea Health District (BHD).
In a cross-sectional survey a questionnaire was administered in households with at least a child <5 years and/pregnant woman in five health areas of the BHD. Information on demographic variables, household composition, mosquito bed net (MBN) ownership, utilization and factors influencing ownership and utilization was recorded.
A total of 443 respondents were recruited and 208 (47.0%) possessed at least one MBN (total = 275 MBNs) with a median of 1.33 nets. Of the 275 nets found in households, 89 (32%) were potent ITNs and others had never been retreated/treated. Purchase of MBNs from the market was associated with marital status (P = 0.010) and urban settlement (P = 0.045). The number of respondents who did not know where to retreat/treat ITNs was significantly higher (P = 0.005) in urban than rural dwellers. The proportion of rural respondents who had once taken their MBNs for re-treatment was significantly higher (P = 0.002) than that of urban dwellers. MBN utilisation was 69.7% (95% confidence interval; CI = .63.2-75.6%). A total of 83.4%, 13.8% and 3.4% used MBNs throughout the year, during the rainy and dry seasons respectively. MBN use in children under five was associated with being from an urban area (P = 0.01). MBN use in pregnant women was associated with living in block-louver houses than in block-pane houses (P = 0.047).
Utilization of MBN needs to be encouraged to match ownership while free distribution of ITNs to vulnerable groups needs to be continuous and consistent.
疟疾仍然是一个公共卫生问题，喀麦隆建议在弱势群体（孕妇和5岁以下儿童）中使用经杀虫剂处理的蚊帐（ITN）来预防疟疾。本研究旨在评估影响布埃亚健康区（BHD）弱势群体中ITN所有权和使用情况的社会人口因素。
在一项横断面调查中，对BHD五个健康区域内至少有一名5岁以下儿童和/或孕妇的家庭进行问卷调查。记录有关人口变量、家庭构成、蚊帐（MBN）所有权、使用情况以及影响所有权和使用情况的因素的信息。
共招募了443名受访者，其中208人（47.0%）拥有至少一顶MBN（总计275顶MBN），中位数为1.33顶蚊帐。在家庭中发现的275顶蚊帐中，89顶（32%）是有效的ITN，其他蚊帐从未重新处理/处理过。从市场购买MBN与婚姻状况（P = 0.010）和城市定居点（P = 0.045）有关。不知道在哪里重新处理/处理ITN的受访者数量在城市居民中显著高于农村居民（P = 0.005）。曾经将MBN送去重新处理的农村受访者比例显著高于城市居民（P = 0.002）。MBN的使用率为69.7%（95%置信区间；CI = 63.2 - 75.6%）。全年、雨季和旱季分别有83.4%、13.8%和3.4%的人使用MBN。5岁以下儿童使用MBN与来自城市地区有关（P = 0.01）。孕妇使用MBN与居住在百叶窗式房屋而非平板玻璃房屋有关（P = 0.047）。
需要鼓励MBN的使用以与所有权相匹配，同时需要持续且一致地向弱势群体免费分发ITN。
