Ownership, usage, and perception of insecticide-treatednets (ITNs) for the prevention of malaria amongstudents of a tertiary institution in northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction The appropriate use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) has been regarded as a successful, cost-effective, and efficient method of controlling malaria. The objective of this study is to determine the level of ownership, usage, and awareness of ITNs in the control of malaria among students of a tertiary institution in northeastern Nigeria. Methods This survey was a cross-sectional study that recruited 451 students of a tertiary institution in northeastern Nigeria by a simple random sampling technique from June to August 2022. The study employed a closedended questionnaire with responses on a 4-point Likert scale. Statistical significance was taken at a 95% confidence interval with p<0.05. Results Of the 451 respondents, 229 (50.78%) and 222 (49.22%) were female and male, respectively. The participants were aged 16–36 years, with those aged 16–25 years numbering 343 (76.1%). Of the total respondents, 261 (57.87%) owned ITNs, while 190 (42.13%) did not own ITNs. Ownership of ITNs was not associated with gender (OR=1.41; 95% CI: 0.97–2.06, p=0.07) or age (OR=0.93; 95% CI: 0.60–1.44, p=0.73). The results showed that government support in the prevention of malaria through the distribution of free ITNs was relatively adequate (p<0.001). Of the 261 respondents with ITNs, 236 (90.42%) used the ITNs the night before the administration of the questionnaire. There was no significant association between ITNs usage with gender (OR=1.33; 95% CI: 0.58–3.03, p=0.49) or age (OR=1.90; CI=0.79–4.53, p=0.1502). The majority of the respondents (407; 90.24%) had the perception and awareness that regular sleeping in ITNs helps to prevent malaria. Conclusions The study highlighted ITNs ownership, perception, and awareness of ITNs usage among the study population which were high and encouraging. However, there is need for the government to introduce distribution of free ITNs among school-aged children in dormitories, and students of higher institutions.