PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AND UTILIZATION OF INSECTICIDE TREATED BEDNETS AMONG PATIENTS VISITING WACHA HEALTH CENTER, DARAMALO WOREDA, SOUTH ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Malaria is life threatening disease that affects over one- third of world human population, especially in countries of tropics and subtropics. Insecticide Treated BedNets are the most powerful malaria controlling tools. The utilization of ITBNs is still unacceptably low among rural people. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine prevalence of malaria and the utilization of ITBNs among patients visiting Wacha Health Center, Daramalo Woreda Southern Ethiopia. The study was a Health Center based cross- sectional survey conducted between March to May 2018. Diagnosis of malaria infection was done using microscopic examination of thick and thin Giemsa stained blood smears for the presence of malaria parasite. Additionally, a structured questionnaire was used to assess the utilization of ITBNs by study participants. Clinical records of malaria from 2013 to 2017 were collected from the Health Center to analyze the trend over the past five years. Results of parasitological survey showed that an overall prevalence of malaria was 36.02% among studied population. Of these, the prevalence of P.vivax, P.falciparum and mixed infection was 21.8%, 12.8% and 1.42%, respectively. The questionnaires result showed that 68.25% of the study participant’s possessed ITNBs and 51.9% utilize ITBNs. Among socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants, family size, residence, educational level, occupation, income and duration of stay were significantly associated (P<0.05) with malaria infection. In that of utilization and possession of ITBNs characters number of ITBNs, frequency of ITBNs use, training on ITBNs utilization, treatment of ITBNs with chemicals, frequency of washing of ITBNs and replacements of old and worn out ITBNs were significantly associated (P<0.05) with malaria infection. Analyses of the retrospective malaria cases showed that malaria was frequently occurring throughout the year. Therefore, regular health education must be provided to raise individual and community awareness about the proper utilization of ITBNs.