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Mosquito-borne diseases are of public health significance in Makurdi, Nigeria. Investigations on the protective practices against mosquito bites among Undergraduate students of Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi were conducted from January to April, 2016. Data was collected from a total of 300 students across the University hostels and private accommodation around the campus using structured questionnaires. Of the 300 students interviewed, 171 (57%) were males while 129 (43%) were females, and all of them (100%) had used one or more forms of the protective practices against mosquito bites. The age group 15-25 years had the highest number of responses (67%) while age group 35-45 years recorded the least number of responses (0.7%) respectively. The responses were significantly dependent on the age and sex of respondents (χ2 = 47.247, df = 3, P > 0.05). The use of window nets as protection against mosquito bites recorded the highest frequency 233/300(77.7%) while the use of mosquito weeds as repellents had the least number of respondents 2/300(0.7%) respectively. The results showed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between male and female respondents. Similarly, the responses varied significantly (P < 0.05) across the age groups. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the level of effectiveness of the protective measures used among the students. The use of window and door nets, insecticide treated nets and insecticidal sprays were the most commonly used protection against mosquito bites. The fact that a large population of the respondents had used at least one control measure or the other against mosquito bites provided evidence for high rate of mosquito bites in the University community. It is recommended that Insecticide Treated Nets should be distributed free to the students on seasonal basis and proper environmental sanitation should be encouraged to destroy mosquito breeding sites in the community.
Msugh-Ter et al. (Tue,) studied this question.