Socio- demographic Factors Influencing the Ownership and Utilization of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets among Endemic Sub-counties in Kisii County, Kenya

Aim: To access the socio-demographic factors which are influencing the ownership and utilization of Long Lasting Insecticidal nets (LLINs) among endemic Sub-Counties in Kisii County, Kenya.

Study design: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Kisii County where study subjects were drawn from Bonchari, Kitutu Chache North and South Mugirango Sub-Counties between January to May 2021.

Methodology: Leading hospitals in the Sub-Counties with malaria cases without referrals were selected for the study. A total of 422 study participants who attended Kiaruta and Nyamagiri dispensaries, Eramba, Sieka, Moticho and Suguta health centers with signs of malaria were the targeted population. Structured and open ended questionnaires were used to collect data. Associations between variables were tested using Pearson’s chi-square test through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.

Results: From the total study participants, 68.69% were having LLINs. From the total number with LLINs, 33.18% had torn LLINs. 61.61% study participants were sleeping under the LLINs. Of the participants who were sleeping under LLINs, 46.92% had torn LLINs. Positive association was seen between ownership of LLINs and age (P = 0.008), ownership of LLINs and level of education (P = 0.011), ownership of LLINs and household membership (P < 0.001) and ownership of LLINs and location (P < 0.001), also there was a statistical significance between use of LLINs and age (P < .001), use of LLINs and level of education (P < .001), use of LLINs and gender (P = .024), use of LLINs and location (P = .002), and use of LLINs and the last year when each participant received LLINs (P < .001),

Conclusion: Despite coverage of LLINs being high its usage was low and this means that socio-demographic factor has shown to be having a great influence on the ownership and utilization of LLINs. Therefore regular training must be done on LLINs and malaria transmissions with the urge to reduce malaria incidences.