Journal of Tropical Medicine (Jan 2010)

Rapid Increase in Ownership and Use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets and Decrease in Prevalence of Malaria in Three Regional States of Ethiopia (2006-2007)

  • Estifanos Biru Shargie,
  • Jeremiah Ngondi,
  • Patricia M. Graves,
  • Asefaw Getachew,
  • Jimee Hwang,
  • Teshome Gebre,
  • Aryc W. Mosher,
  • Pietro Ceccato,
  • Tekola Endeshaw,
  • Daddi Jima,
  • Zerihun Tadesse,
  • Eskindir Tenaw,
  • Richard Reithinger,
  • Paul M. Emerson,
  • Frank O. Richards,
  • Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/750978
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2010

Abstract

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Following recent large scale-up of malaria control interventions in Ethiopia, this study aimed to compare ownership and use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN), and the change in malaria prevalence using two population-based household surveys in three regions of the country. Each survey used multistage cluster random sampling with 25 households per cluster. Household net ownership tripled from 19.6% in 2006 to 68.4% in 2007, with mean LLIN per household increasing from 0.3 to 1.2. Net use overall more than doubled from 15.3% to 34.5%, but in households owning LLIN, use declined from 71.7% to 48.3%. Parasitemia declined from 4.1% to 0.4%. Large scale-up of net ownership over a short period of time was possible. However, a large increase in net ownership was not necessarily mirrored directly by increased net use. Better targeting of nets to malaria-risk areas and sustained behavioural change communication are needed to increase and maintain net use.