Pattern of Bednet Ownership and Usage of Insecticide Treated Bednet (ITN) among Pregnant Women in Nigeria (Review of 2003 and 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey [NDHS]

Introduction: Malaria in pregnancy imposes great burden on the country in terms of maternal morbidity, anaemia and low birth weights for children. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends insecticide-treated nets (ITN) usage for pregnant women to reduce the burden of malaria in pregnancy. There have been various interventions put in place by the government to make ITN available thereby ensuring usage but there has never been a documentation to describe the effectiveness of these strategies. This study reviewed the pattern of bed net ownership and ITN usage among pregnant women.

Methodology: This study was a comparative cross-sectional population based study in which a secondary data review and analyses of 2003 and 2008 national demographic and health survey (NDHS) data were done. Frequencies, charts and chi square test using Stat calc of Epi-Info statistical software were used to investigate the pattern of trend of ITN usage.

Results: Pregnant women who owned bed net increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 12.9% in 2003 to 22.9% in 2008. Pregnant women who slept under ITN also increased significantly from 1.2% in 2003 to 5.0% in 2008. There was a significant increase in the ownership of bed net and usage of ITN over the years in all the categories of residence, region, wealth index, education, literacy, partner’s education, work status, marital status and religion.

Conclusion: This study found out that despite the fact that ITN was introduced widely across Nigeria, bed net ownership and ITN usage were still low and hereby calls for intensified campaign on awareness of practicing usage of ITN.