Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110112

Kate Macintyre, PhD¹, Tewolde Gebremeskel, MD², Joe Keating, PhD³, Stephen Sosler, PhD¹, Yohannes B. Okbaldt, MS², Mehari Zerom², and Thom Eisele, PhD¹. (1) Department of International Health and Development, Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1400 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504 988-3542, teisele@tulane.edu, (2) National Malaria Control Programme Eritrea, Ministry of Health, Asmara, Eritrea, (3) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, Highland Professional Building, Miami, FL 33136

The use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to prevent malaria is now one of the main strategies recommended by the Roll Back Malaria partnership. However, many challenges remain as national programs begin scaling-up ITN coverage, including: access and availability of nets, cost in resource-poor settings, net retreatment, and improper use. Here we present the main predictors of ITN use and household possession following a free-of-charge ITN distribution program in three districts of Eritrea. Data were obtained using a household questionnaire from a probability sample of 2,340 households using a two-stage cluster sampling design. Logistic regression was used to assess the determinants of ITN use and possession at the household level while controlling for potential confounders. Almost all (92.1%) households possessed at least one ITN. Over half (55.5%) of all households reported all children <5 years old under ITNs the night before the survey, while one third (32.7%) reported all household occupants under ITNs. After adjusting for potential confounders, significant determinants of ITN use among children <5 years old included correct knowledge of malaria transmission, the presence of a health clinic within the village, and the district of residence. These findings suggest perception of risk, through knowledge, and proximity to a clinic, which served as a point of distribution, are important predictors of whether a child slept under an ITN. The national malaria control program in Eritrea is working well to disseminate ITNs for controlling malaria, as evidenced by high proportions of households reporting ITN ownership.

Learning Objectives: