Awareness and use of insecticide-treated bed nets among children attending outpatient clinic at UNTH, Enugu - the need for an effective mobilization process.

BACKGROUND The promotion of insecticide-treated net (ITN) can be a key approach towards the reduction of morbidity and mortality from malaria. OBJECTIVE To determine the proportion of mothers using insecticide treated nets for their children and reasons for nonuse. STUDY DESIGN Prospective hospital-based study. METHOD Consecutive mothers attending the children's out patient clinic of UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, whose children presented with fever without localizing focus were interviewed with the aid of an open-ended structured questionnaire. RESULTS Awareness of ITN was found in 184 (80%) of the 230 mothers interviewed, while only 48 (26.1%) use it for their children. There was statistically significant difference in terms of ITN awareness between the highly educated mothers and those with lower educational qualification (p = 0.000) but, in terms of ITN usage, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.40). Socio economic class did not influence the use of ITN (p = 0.153). A greater number; 56 (41.2%) have no reason for non-use. Reasons for nonuse include use of windows and door nets 22 (16.2%) and not convenient to spread 18 (13.2%). CONCLUSION There was a high awareness of ITN, which did not influence usage.