INSECTICIDE-TREATED NET UTILIZATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT MOTHERS AND UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN IN EAST BELLESSA DISTRICT, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA USING HEALTH BELIEF MODEL

Abstract

Abstracts Introduction: Malaria during pregnancy and childhood is one of the major public health challenges globally. Its prevalence is huge in Africa especially in sub-Saharan countries including Ethiopia. Insecticide Treated Mosquito Net preventive measures. Although several studies had been done on ITN utilization, they were deficient in addressing the health belief and behavioral aspects using Health belief Model. Objective: This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of insecticide-treated nets utilization and associated factors among pregnant mothers and under-five children in East Bellessa district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. Method: A cross-sectional mixed quantitative and qualitative study design was conducted in east Bellessa district from February 01-30 / 2020. A total of 724 eligible participants were included in the quantitative study. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used. The quantitative data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi data version 4.6.0.2 and then exported to SPSS version 16 for analysis. The binary logistic regression model was fitted and variable’s statistically significant association was declared based on AOR with its 95% CI and p-value ? 0.05. Meanwhile, the qualitative data were collected using focus group discussion and key informant interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis approach with open code 4.03 software. Result: The prevalence of ITN utilization was 56.5% Conclusion: The prevalence of ITN utilization in the study area was lower than the national target Keywords: Ethiopia, Health Belief Model, Insecticide-treated net, Malaria, Utilization