Knowledge About Malaria, and Coverage and Utilization Pattern of Mosquito Nets in Pawe Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community Based Survey

Abstract

Malaria is a major public health problem and the leading communicable disease in Ethiopia. Interruption of contact between humans and mosquitoes through the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) is an encouraging approach to protect people from malaria infection. This paper reflects on how people in an area of seasonal malaria, perceive the cause and transmission of the disease, and also assesses the coverage and utilization pattern of long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets (LLINs) in Pawe special District, Beneshangul-Gumuz National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia. Both a cross-sectional household survey using a pre-tested interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire and qualitative methods, including focus group discussions (FGDs) and key-informant interviews were employed in the data collection. Data were collected primarily from mothers. Although the study revealed that the Pawe community largely believes malaria to be preventable, the majority of the respondents could not correctly answer the cause, transmission and diagnosis methods of malaria. The survey also showed that 427 (98.8%) respondents reported to own at least one mosquito net. In conclusion, it is recommended that efforts on the prevention and control of malaria should be enhanced by increasing awareness of the community about the correct cause; transmission and diagnosis methods; appropriate utilization of mosquito nets, and on the nature of LLINs.

Keywords: malaria, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, utilization pattern, Beneshangul-Gumuz, Northwest Ethiopia