Child bed net use before, during, and after a bed net distribution campaign in Bo, Sierra Leone. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ranasinghe, Shamika; Ansumana, Rashid; Bockarie, Alfred; Bangura, Umaru; Jimmy, David; Stenger, David; Jacobsen, Kathryn
• Is Part Of: Malaria journal. Volume 14:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 7
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Insecticide-treated bednets -- Malaria/prevention and control -- Health campaigns -- Preschool children -- Infants -- West Africa -- Sub-Saharan Africa; Malaria -- Periodicals; 616.9362
• DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0990-y
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-2875

Abstract

Abstract Background This analysis examined how the proportion of children less than 5-years-old who slept under a bed net the previous night changed during and after a national long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) distribution campaign in Sierra Leone in November–December 2010. Methods A citywide cross-sectional study in 2010–2011 interviewed the caregivers of more than 3000 under-five children from across urban Bo, Sierra Leone. Chi squared tests were used to assess change in use rates over time, and multivariate regression models were used to examine the factors associated with bed net use. Results Reported rates of last-night bed net use changed from 38.7 % (504/1304) in the months before the LLIN campaign to 21.8 % (78/357) during the week of the campaign to 75.3 % (1045/1387) in the months after the national campaign. The bed net use rate significantly increased (p < 0.01) from before the campaign to after the universal LLIN distribution campaign in all demographic, socioeconomic, and health behaviour groups, even though reported use during the campaign dropped significantly. Conclusion Future malaria prevention efforts will need to promote consistent use of LLINs and address any remaining disparities in insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) use.