Abstract:
Background: Malaria contributes a tremendous public health problem across the globe. Every
year at least 30 million women in malarious areas of Africa become pregnant. Malaria infection
during pregnancy is an enormous public health issues, with substantial risks for the mother, her
fetus and the neonate. Malaria during pregnancy is responsible for 5–12% of all Low birth
weight. Theobjective of this study was to assess Insecticide Treated Bed Net Utilization and
Associated Factors among Pregnant Women in Dire Dawa. .
Methods:A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in both urban and rural
areas of Dire Dawa administration from March 1-20/2017. A total of 493 pregnant women
were involved in the study using multistage sampling method with random selected of the
study population from randomly selected kebeles. The data were collected by interviewing
pregnant women and direct observation of LLINs conditions and use by health professional
that graduated at minimum of Diploma. Multivariate analysis was used to determine
independent predictors of long last insecticide treated bed net use.
Results:Of the total 505 expected participant, 493 pregnant women with at least one long last
insecticide treated bed net were involved in the study which makes a response rate of (97.6%).
According to the survey a total of 232(47.1%) pregnant women were utilized among those
who possessed long last insecticide treated bed net. having recent information and good
knowledge about malaria and long last insecticide treated bed net utilization (AOR = 2.2, 95%
CI = 1.4- 3.4)and (AOR=2.7, 95% CI, 1.6-4.7) respectively were positively influence
utilization of long last insecticide treated bed nets.
Conclusion: Although long last insecticide treated bed net ownership in the study area was
moderate (68%), a significant proportion 43% of them didn’t slept under it during the previous
night of the survey. Thus, they are at risk of malaria infection. Exposure for recent information
and having good knowledge about malaria and long last insecticide treated bed net utilization
were the significant predictors of net use. Thus, continues and tailored health information
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dissemination is very important to enhance bed net use and for prevention of malaria infection.
