Factors associated with insecticide-treated net usage among women of childbearing age in Malawi: a multilevel analysis.

Nkoka, O., Chuang, T.-W., Chuang, K.-Y. and Chen, Y.-H. (2018) Factors associated with insecticide-treated net usage among women of childbearing age in Malawi: a multilevel analysis. Malaria Journal, 17, 372. (doi: 10.1186/s12936-018-2522-z) (PMID:30340640) (PMCID:PMC6195758)

[img] Text
228020.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

994kB

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to identify factors at individual and community level influencing insecticide-treated net (ITN) usage among groups of women of childbearing age (WOCBA) in Malawi. Methods: Factors influencing ITN usage in Malawi were assessed through interviews with 16,130 WOCBA (15–49 years) across 850 communities who participated in the 2015–2016 Malawi Demographic Health Survey. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used. Results: ITN use was similar between pregnant women and non-pregnant women with children under 5 years (45.9% and 46.9%, respectively), but slightly lower among non-pregnant women without children under 5 years (39.1%). Both individual and community characteristics were associated with ITN use among WOCBA and varied significantly across subgroups. Specifically, non-pregnant women with children under 5 years living in communities where women had high autonomy in health care decisions had an 18% greater odds of using an ITN compared with those from communities where women had low health care autonomy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–1.38). Distance to health care facility influenced ITN usage among pregnant women; those who did not regard distance as a problem had a 44% greater odds of using an ITN than those for whom distance was seen as a problem (aOR = 1.44; 95% CI 1.09–1.89). Number of household members, region, urbanization, and community ITN coverage influenced ITN usage across all WOCBA groups. Conclusion: The findings confirmed the importance of assessing various factors affecting ITN usage among groups of WOCBA. Both individual- and community-level factors should be considered when designing and implementing ITN programmes in Malawi.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Nkoka, Dr Owen
Authors: Nkoka, O., Chuang, T.-W., Chuang, K.-Y., and Chen, Y.-H.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Robertson Centre
Journal Name:Malaria Journal
Publisher:BMC
ISSN:1475-2875
ISSN (Online):1475-2875
Copyright Holders:Copyright © The Author(s) 2018
First Published:First published in Malaria Journal 17:372
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record