Mosquito Bed Net Preferences and Efficacy in the Prevention of Gestational Malaria in Yaounde, Cameroon

Malaria prevention methods are diverse. Their availability sometimes does not guarantee effective usage and the use of each method in isolation may not provide the necessary results for the fight against malaria. Pregnant women are relatively more vulnerable and so it is recommended that they should be protected against malaria. Proper protection will require the use of long lasting insecticide treated mosquito bed nets as major malaria prevention method. This study was designed to find out malaria prevalence and factors influencing the use of mosquito bet nets among pregnant women of Biyem-Assi Health District. Information on the knowledge of malaria and use of malaria prevention methods, especially bed nets was collected from 302 pregnant women attending prenatal clinics in health institutions within the Biyem-Assi Health District of Yaounde VI subdivision using a pretested questionnaire. Thick smear was prepared for screening Plasmodium parasites. Analysis was done using EPI INFO version 16 (Chicago IL USA) and test of Chi 2. The study revealed that malaria prevalence was 48.5%. The shape of mosquito net had a significant (P = 0.05) effect on its use and a reduction on prevalence of malaria. The use of mosquito bed net was 47.7% while some of the women (52.3%) did not use it. Profession significantly influenced (P ˂ 0.04) the use of mosquito bed nets. Some of the women did not use mosquito bed nets for different reasons such as heat, forgetfulness, neglect, dislike, etc. The shape and color influenced the use, but this was not significant. Use of mosquito bed nets as major malaria prevention methods is not considered as priority by pregnant women. Sensitization campaigns by government and NGOs should reduce malaria prevalence during pregnancy and give a priority position to mosquito bed nets.

Download Full-text

Plasmodium falciparum Parasitaemia during Pregnancy and the Use of Malaria Prevention Methods by Women Attending Antenatal Consultation at the Regional Hospital Bamenda, Northwest Cameroon

International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health ◽

10.9734/ijtdh/2020/v41i2030393 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 46-56

Author(s):

Calvin Bisong Ebai ◽

Felicite Natacha Etindele Ebongue ◽

Odelia Kwende-Tanjong Lum ◽

Jammbe Z. Musoro ◽

Cedric Yamssi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasmodium Falciparum ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Malaria Prevention ◽

Regional Hospital ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Antenatal Consultation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

Prevention Method ◽

Prevention Methods

Aims: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia in pregnant women and to identify the prevention methods used by pregnant women attending antenatal consultation (ANC) in the Regional Hospital Bamenda (RHB). Study Design: This was a hospital based cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Regional Hospital Bamenda between April and May 2020. Methodology: A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, history of pregnancy and the use of malaria prevention methods. Capillary blood was collected through finger prick and used to prepare thick and thin blood smears that were Giemsa-stained for the detection of malaria parasite by microscopy. Results: A total of 250 pregnant women took part in this study. The mean age ±SD was 27.71 ±5.47 years. The mean pregnancy age ±SD was 24.04 ±8.59 weeks. The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was 18.0%. The most used malaria prevention method was LLINs (190/211, 91.0%). There was a statistically significant difference in MP prevalence between women who used IPTp (13.9%) and those who didn’t (26.5%) (χ2 =5.87, P= .02); between women who used bed nets and IPT (12.9%) in combination and those who didn’t (24.0%) (χ2 = 5.12, P= .03) as well as between participants who used at least one method (16.4%) and their counterparts who didn’t use any malaria prevention method (38.9%) (χ2=5.73, P=.01). Living in a house with plank or mud walls (13; 29.0%) was surprisingly more protective than living in a cement brick or mud brick house (30; 71.0%) (OR: 2.34; 95%CI: 1.10-4.97; P=.03). Conclusion: Malaria remains a health preoccupation among pregnant women attending ANC consultation in the RHB. Use of bed nets and IPTp as well as the use of at least one prevention method could be protective.

Download Full-text

Cross-Study of Malaria Prevalence in History, Bed Net Utilization, and Knowledge about the Disease among Tanzanian College Students

Malaria Research and Treatment ◽

10.1155/2018/8137051 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Yakobo Nyahoga ◽

Zanda Bochkaeva

Keyword(s):

Malaria Prevention ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Malaria Prevalence ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Bed Net ◽

Prevention Measures ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

University Campuses ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Two Factors

University campuses are potential reservoirs of infectious diseases, but they are not in the research focus. It is obvious that the use of malaria preventive tools is extremely necessary in campus conditions in endemic countries. This study is the first malaria survey, conducted in a student campus in Tanzania. This cross-sectional study uncovered a surprisingly high prevalence of malaria history among students: 89,4% of 246 random respondents assume that they had malaria in history, among whom 145 (58,9%) suffered from the disease during the last year. And although students are relatively confident about the vector, parasite, and prevention measures of the disease, only 44,7% of the students use bed nets and 4,5% use a body spray or ointment daily. The others seldom use spray or ointment or do not care about the problem at all. This situation was found to be associated with two factors, financial and educational. Current results show that students are relatively educated on malaria, but they do not follow the malaria prevention guidance. It has become clear that at least proper informational propaganda of bed net use is required in Tanzanian university campuses.

Download Full-text

Reported bed net ownership and use in social contacts is associated with uptake of bed nets for malaria prevention in pregnant women in Ghana

Malaria Journal ◽

10.1186/s12936-016-1660-4 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Kacey C. Ernst ◽

Steven Erly ◽

Charity Adusei ◽

Melanie L. Bell ◽

David Komla Kessie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Malaria Prevention ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Bed Net ◽

Social Contacts

Download Full-text

A perspective of the epidemiology of malaria and anaemia and their impact on maternal and perinatal outcomes in Sudan

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.1282 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 5 (02) ◽

pp. 83-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Ishag Adam ◽

Elhassan M Elhassan ◽

Abd Elrahium D Haggaz ◽

Abdel Aziem A Ali ◽

Gamal K Adam

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Placental Malaria ◽

Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽

Perinatal Outcomes ◽

Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria ◽

Malaria Prevention ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Case Control Studies ◽

Cross Sectional

Introduction: Both malaria and anaemia have adverse effects on maternal and perinatal outcomes. Thus there is an urgent need to investigate the co-epidemiology of malaria and anaemia and their combined impact on maternal and perinatal outcomes in the different regions of Sudan Methodology: Various cross-sectional and case control studies conducted during the years 2003-2010 to investigate the epidemiology of malaria and anaemia and their impact on maternal and perinatal outcomes in different regions of Sudan were compared. Results: While 13.7% of antenatal attendants in New Halfa had peripheral microscopically detected Plasmodium falciparum malaria, placental malaria (using histological examinations) was prevalent in 32.0-40% and 19.5% of parturient women in New Halfa and Gadarif Hospitals, respectively. Malaria was a risk factor for anaemia in New Halfa and for stillbirths in Omdurman Maternity Hospital. Anaemia was present in 52.5%, 62.6% and 80.2% of pregnant women in Medani, New Halfa, and Gadarif Hospitals, respectively. In Gadarif, 57.3% of pregnant women had a folate deficiency, while 1% had a vitamin B12, deficiency. In Medani, zinc and copper deficiencies were detected in 45.0% and 4% of pregnant women, respectively. Anaemia was a risk factor for low birth weight in Al-Fashir, for fetal anaemia in New Halfa, and for stillbirth in Kassala Hospital. Conclusion: More care should be taken to ensure proper nutrition and malaria prevention such as bed nets and intermittent preventive treatments to avoid these diseases and their effects on maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Download Full-text

The Economics of Malaria Prevention

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Economics and Finance ◽

10.1093/acrefore/9780190625979.013.252 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Bénédicte Apouey ◽

Gabriel Picone ◽

Joshua Wilde

Keyword(s):

Financial Constraints ◽

Intermittent Preventive Treatment ◽

Indoor Residual Spraying ◽

Preventive Treatment ◽

Malaria Prevention ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Preventive Behaviors ◽

Mosquito Net ◽

Positive Externalities

Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease transmitted through the bites of female anopheline mosquitos infected with protozoan parasites. Malaria remains one of the major causes of mortality by infectious disease: in 2015, there were an estimated 212 million cases and 429,000 deaths globally, according to the 2016 World Malaria Report. Children under 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa bear the greatest burden of the disease worldwide. However, most of these cases could be prevented or treated. Several methods are highly effective in preventing malaria: in particular, sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net (ITN), indoor residual spraying (IRS), and taking intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women (IPTp). Regarding treatment, artesiminin-based combination therapy (ACT) is recommended as first-line treatment in many countries. Compared with other actions, malaria prevention behaviors have some specific features. In particular, they produce public health externalities. For example, bed net usage creates positive externalities since bed nets not only directly protect the user, but also reduce transmission probabilities through reduction in the number of disease hosts, and in the case of ITNs, reduction of the vector itself. In contrast, ACT uptake creates both positive externalities when individuals with malaria are treated, and negative externalities in the case of overtreatment that speeds up the spread of long-run parasite resistance. Moreover, ITNs, IPTp, and ACTs are experience goods (meaning individuals only ascertain their benefits upon usage), which implies that current preventive actions are linked to past preventive behaviors. Malaria prevention and eradication produce unambiguous benefits across various domains: economic conditions, educational outcomes, survival, fertility, and health. However, despite the high private returns to prevention, the adoption of antimalarial products and behaviors remains relatively low in malaria-affected areas. A variety of explanations have been proposed for low adoption rates, including financial constraints, high prices, and absence of information. While recent studies highlight that all of these factors play a role, the main barrier to adoption is probably financial constraints. This finding has implications regarding the appropriate pricing policy for these health products. In addition, there is a shortage of causally identified research on the effect of cultural and psychological barriers to the adoption of preventive behaviors. The literature which does exist is from a few randomized control trials of few individuals in very specific geographic and cultural contexts, and may not be generalizable. As a result, there are still ample opportunities for research on applying the insights of behavioral economics to malaria-preventive behavior in particular. Moreover, little research has been done on the supply side, such as whether free or heavily subsidized distribution of prevention technologies is fiscally sustainable; finding effective methods to solve logistical problems which lead to shortages and ineffective alternative treatments to fill the gap; or training sufficient healthcare workers to ensure smooth and effective delivery. Given these gaps in the literature, there are still multiple fruitful avenues for research which may have a first-order effect on reducing the prevalence of malaria in the developing world.

Download Full-text

Malaria Prevalence and Risk Factors in University Communities of Eastern Uganda: a case of Islamic University in Uganda

10.21203/rs.3.rs-232868/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Abdishakur Elmi Warsame ◽

Jamilu Edrisa Ssenku ◽

Shaban Alemu Okurut ◽

Joseph Luwaga Mpagi ◽

Jacob Stanley Iramiot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Malaria Prevention ◽

Malaria Prevalence ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Mortality And Morbidity ◽

Inappropriate Use ◽

Mosquito Nets ◽

University Communities ◽

National Prevalence ◽

Eastern Uganda

Abstract Background: Malaria remains the world’s leading vector-born cause of mortality and morbidity, and Eastern Uganda contains some of the country’s highest prevalence rates. Though academic societies, such as universities, may be prone to high malaria transmission, the extent of the burden and risk factors in university communities of Eastern Uganda are poorly understood. The aim in this study was to examine malaria prevalence, preventive strategies, and risk factors, among University communities in Eastern Uganda; to inform targeted malaria eradication efforts in academic settings. Methods: A mixed methods approach was applied. A case study of Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), located in Eastern Uganda, was selected. A retrospective approach was used to determine malaria prevalence in IUIU from August to December 2019. Stratified random sampling was used to select IUIU community members; these were subjected to semi-structured questionnaires and Key informant Interviews (KII) to examine the preventive approaches and risk factors. An observational survey was also conducted to identify barriers to malaria prevention. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, graphs, Chi-square, and pictures; with STATA version-15.0. Results: The study involved 255 respondents (204, 80% students, 51, 20% staff); 130, 51% were males, 125, 49% were females. Malaria prevalence was; 12.9%, 11.7% and 12.7% for students, staff, and the general study population respectively. Lowest prevalence was registered in November (8.3% for students, 0% for staff), and the highest in December (18.4% for students, 6.7% for staff). Overall malaria prevalence in IUIU was significantly greater than Uganda’s national prevalence (χ2=182.009; p<0.0001; 95%CI). The commonest intervention was, sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito-nets (96%), and the rarest was usage of medicinal herbs (15%). Though 41 (17.5%) of respondents who used mosquito-nets never suffered malaria, usage of mosquito-nets was not significantly associated with absence of malaria infection (p = 0.83). The same applied for other interventions except timely testing and treatment (p = 0.02). Most frequently mentioned risk factors were; improper use of mosquito nets (214, 84%), inappropriate depositing of garbage (196, 77%), and “staying out late” (133, 52%). Key barriers to malaria prevention observed were; usage of damaged bed nets (38, 19% of 198), clogged trenches with liquid wastes, and perforated wire meshes in ventilators. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of malaria in IUIU community was 12.7%; and was significantly higher than Uganda’s national prevalence (7%). Usage of insecticide-treated bed-nets was the commonest intervention, but showed no statistically significant association with malaria non-prevalence. Awareness programs should be enhanced to address inappropriate use of malaria control methods/tools, because the widespread adoption of these interventions alone did not effectively curb the burden.

Download Full-text

Malaria Prevention Measures among Pregnant Women: A Population-Based Survey in Nnewi, Nigeria

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2019/6402947 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Devender Bhalla ◽

Laurent Cleenewerck ◽

Stephen Okorafor Kalu ◽

Kabiru Abubakar Gulma

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Workers ◽

Malaria Prevention ◽

Population Based ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Antenatal Visit ◽

Prevention Measures ◽

Thermal Discomfort ◽

Qualitative Part ◽

Antenatal Visits

We examined factors related to the uptake of two malaria prevention measures, insecticide-treated bed-nets and prophylactic sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), among pregnant women in Nnewi, Nigeria. The survey had a quantitative and qualitative part. For each part, the subjects meeting our inclusion criteria were systematically identified in a population-based manner. For the qualitative part, focused group discussions, in-depth interviews with a wide variety of stakeholders (e.g., health workers, males whose wives are pregnant, and drug and net sellers), and key informants including doctors and nurses were held. All data covered various aspects related to the topics. A total of 384 subjects participated. The mean age was 28.9 years (95% CI 23.4–34.5). The primigravidae (odds 1.8–2.3) and illiterates (odds 4.1–13.5) were less likely to sleep under the net. Primigravidae were 2.0x less likely to uptake adequate SP. The uptake was also associated with having adequate knowledge on SP (2.4x), completing usual (≥4 visits) antenatal visits (3.9x), and being in the best (≥9 visits) antenatal visit scenario (10.5x). Other barriers identified were thermal discomfort, lack of availability, cost, and unsupervised uptake of SP. Based on a representative sample, systematic procedures, and within current evaluation limits, we conclude that primigravidae and those with no formal education and inadequate antenatal visits should be the foremost group for encouraging uptake of malaria prevention measures. The policymakers should resolve issues of thermal discomfort, availability, cost, unsupervised uptake, and inadequate awareness and confidence on SP prophylaxis. The solutions are available and should be actively sought.

Download Full-text

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Behaviours on Malaria Prevention in Zambezia Province, Mozambique

10.21203/rs.3.rs-74134/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Liliana da Fonseca ◽

Jorge Harrison Arroz ◽

Maria do Rosario O. Martins ◽

Zulmira Hartz ◽

Nuria W Negrao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preventive Measures ◽

Early Recognition ◽

Intermittent Preventive Treatment ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Malaria Prevention ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Bed Net ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Prevention Messages

Abstract Background: In Mozambique, the socio-economic and cultural factors influence the wide adoption of disease preventive measures, which is relevant for malaria control strategies that rely on early recognition of disease, prompt seeking of medical care, sleeping under mosquito nets, and taking intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women. However, there is a critical information gap regarding to previous and ongoing malaria Social Behaviour Communication (SBC) interventions. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and behaviours of the beneficiaries of SBC interventions. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 2018 in two rural districts of Zambezia province, Mozambique. A structured questionnaire was administered to 773 randomly selected households. Respondents are the heads of the households, adults above 18 years old. Descriptive statistics were done.Results: The main results show that around 96.4 % respondents recalled hearing about malaria in the previous 6 months and 90.0% had knowledge on malaria prevention and 70.0% on preventive measures ; from 97.7% respondents that received bed nets through the mass bed net distribution campaign, 81.7% slept under a bed net the night before the survey; 70.5 % recognized the role of community volunteers in the dissemination of malaria prevention messages; 76.1 % of respondents considered worship places (churches and mosques) to be the main places where they heard key messages on malaria prevention and 79.1 % asserted that community dialogue sessions helped them better understand how to prevent malaria.Conclusions: Results show that the volunteers/activists/teachers have played an important role in the dissemination of key malaria prevention messages which brought the following successes: community actors are recognized and people have knowledge on malaria transmission, signs and symptoms, preventive measures, and where to get treatment. There is room for improvement on the SBC messaging regarding some malaria symptoms (anaemia and convulsions); and operational research is needed to ascertain the drivers of malaria prevalence and social and behaviour communication approach.

Download Full-text

Long Lasting Insecticide-treated Bed Net Ownership, Utilization and Associated Factors Among School-age Children in Dara Mallo and Uba Debretsehay Districts, Southern Ethiopia

10.21203/rs.3.rs-46180/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Zerihun Zerdo ◽

Hilde Bastiaens ◽

Sibyl Anthierens ◽

Fekadu Massebo ◽

Matios Masine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Controlled Trial ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Malaria Prevention ◽

Education Level ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

School Age Children ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Bed Net ◽

Previous Night

Abstract Background Malaria is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among school-aged children (SAC) in Sub-Saharan Africa. SAC account for more than 60% of the reservoir of malaria transmission, but they were given less emphasis on prioritizing malaria prevention interventions. This study was aimed at assessing the ownership of bed nets, its utilization and factors associated with ownership of bed nets by households and bed net utilization among SAC in malaria prone areas of Dara Mallo and Uba Debretsehay districts in Southern Ethiopia, October to December 2019. Methods This study is part of baseline assessment in a cluster randomized controlled trial. The data were collected through interview and observation following structured questionnaire from 2261 SAC households. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess the association between bed net ownership or utilization and potential predictor variables. Odds Ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were used to determine the strength and statistical significance of association. Results The ownership of at least one bed net by households of SAC was about 19.3% (95% CI: 17.7%-21.0%). It was affected by living in altitude ranged from 1100 to 1250 meters above sea level with Adjusted OR (AOR) of 0.5 (95%CI: 0.3–0.9) and presence of child age less than 5 years (AOR = 2.1; 95%CI: 1.2–3.7). About 7.8% (95% CI: 6.7%-10.0%) of all SAC participated in the study and 40.4% (95% CI: 57.4% − 66.7%) of children in households owning at bed net passed the previous night under bed net. Bed net utilization by SAC conditional to its presence was lower among children age > 9 years (AOR = 0.2; 95%CI: 0.03–0.8); higher in children with mothers who had an education level above grade six (AOR = 5.2; 95%CI: 1.8–17.0); and when the household size to bed net ratio was ≤ 2 (AOR = 37.8; 95%CI: 4.1–1106). Conclusion Ownership of bed net was lower than universal coverage of at least one bed net for two individuals. It is important to monitor replacement needs and educate mothers with low education level and their SAC on the benefit of consistent utilization of bed nets.

Download Full-text

UTILIZATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MALARIA PREVENTION METHODS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN TERTIARY HOSPITAL SITUATED IN RURAL COMMUNITY OF EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

10.36106/3040272 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 6-9

Author(s):

Azeez Oyemomi Ibrahim ◽

Tosin Anthony Agbesanwa ◽

Olabode Muftau Shabi ◽

Kayode Ebenezer Ariyibi ◽

Ayodele Kamal Alabi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Indoor Residual Spray ◽

Venous Blood ◽

Malaria Prevention ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Malaria Parasitaemia ◽

Insecticide Treated Nets ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Prevention Methods

Background: National surveys indicate that among countries in Africa where malaria is endemic, Nigeria alone accounts for 21% of pregnancies that are unprotected from malaria. This study aimed to ascertain the extent of utilization and effectiveness of malaria prevention methods, found out the existing relationship between maternal parasitaemia and the effectiveness of these methods at (p<0.05) level of signicance.Methods: The study was a cross sectional survey involving 264 consenting pregnant women who were recruited at booking clinic at Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido -Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on their socio-demographic characteristics, mode and extent of utilization of malaria prevention methods and their effectiveness. Venous blood samples were collected and analyzed for malaria parasitaemia using the microscopy. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 Results:The malaria prevention methods most commonly reported as being effective were the Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs), Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) or both, which were utilized by 97(36.5%), 79 (30.0%) and 88 (33.4%) participants respectively. Eight (8.3%), 9 (10.8%), and 7 (7.9%) of the participants that used ITNs, IRS or both combination respectively tested positive for malaria parasitaemia. There was a statistically signicant association between maternal parasitaemia and malaria prevention methods using ITNs (p=0.001), IRS (p = 0.001) or both (p = 0.001).Conclusion: The most commonly adopted malaria prevention methods were ITNs, Indoor Residual Spray or both. Despite their protective effectiveness, their utilizations are still poor. Information and communication strategies by the stakeholders are suggested to improve the utilization of these methods as adopted by other countries.

Download Full-text