Demographic factors associated with insecticide treated net use among Nigerian women and children

BACKGROUND: Malaria constitutes a major health problem, with children and pregnant women being the most vulnerable to its morbidity and mortality. AIM: To determine the demographic factors associated with the use of insecticide-treated nets among children and pregnant women in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was based on data drawn from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2008 on the use of insecticide-treated nets among women and children. The survey was conducted in 34070 households and a total of 10,724 women aged 15-49 years participated in the survey. Data were entered into Minitab version 15 and the chi-square test for independence was performed to show association between variables. RESULTS: The results revealed that 49.8% of children and 44% of pregnant women present in households that owe insecticide-treated nets slept under them on the night before the survey. Sleeping under an insecticide-treated nets among children was associated with (P<0.05) the age of a child, geopolitical zone, and wealth quintile while the use of insecticide-treated nets among pregnant women was associated with the education level and wealth quintile of households. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that some demographic factors are associated with the use of ITNs among children and pregnant women in Nigeria.