Use Of Insecticide Treated Net In The Prevention Of Malaria Among Jiggery And Tea Workers In Kisii County Kenya

ABSTRACT

Insecticide- treated nets (ITNs) if used correctly are the most powerful malaria control intervention tools which have been recommended by most governments in the world. Yet up to date, use is still very low in some places with only three percent of African sleeping under an ITN and about 20 percent sleeping under any kind of net. Worse still, malaria continues to be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among the Jaggery and tea workers in both sugar cane and tea industry. The main aim of this study was to assess the use of ITNs among the Jaggery and tea workers in the prevention of malaria in the South Mugirango Sub County, Kisii County. The specific objectives include; to establish the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, to determine knowledge on the use of ITNs, to examine the perception of the ITNs use, to establish the level of ITNs use and to identify the factors that influence the ITNs use among the Jaggery and tea workers. The study adopted descriptive cross sectional design whereby both cluster, proportionate, purposive and snowball sampling approaches were used to get the sample size of 209 respondents from the Jaggery and tea workers to be interviewed. Data was collected using questionnaires, key informant interview and focused group discussions. Qualitative and quantitative data were transcribed; coded and categorized to come up with the emerging themes. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Chi-Square was used to determine the relationship between variables. The results show low levels of ITNs use due to lack of knowledge and low level of income as (52.2%) of respondents did not know the difference between ITNs and non-treated nets. It was found that 56% of respondents were males with 44% being females. Most of the Jaggery and tea workers were aged between 29- 39 years and 40-50 years with 41%and 26% respondents respectively. Education was significantly related (p