IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 9, Issue 2 (Jul.- Aug. 2013), PP 60-64 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 60 | Page A Survey of Utilization and Effectiveness of Insecticide – Treated Bednets (Itns) As Intervention Strategy in Malaria Transmission among Pregnant Women in a Rural Community in Ebonyi State, South Eastern Nigeria 1 Elom, Michael O., 2 Alo, Moses N., 1 Ugah, Uchenna I., 1 Okeh, Emmanuel N., and 1 Ibiam, Gideon A. 1 Departnent of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. 2 Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Federal University, Ndufu – Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State. Abstract: One hundred and twenty eight (128) pregnant women of various age groups and gravidities who were at their different trimesters were interviewed to match their use of ITNs with their episodes of malaria. Structured closed ended interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The age range of the women was between 15 and 47 years. All of them owned insecticide – treated bed nets while only few of the owners utilized them. All the women attended antenatal care (ANC) at the government health care centres. Forty six (35.94%), 42(32.81%), and 40(31.25%) were primigravidae, secundigravidae, and multigravidae respectively. Thirty eight (29.70%), 47(36.72%), and 43(33.60%) were at their 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd trimesters respectively. Thirty seven (28.91%) of the entire sampled population utilized their bed nets, with those within the age group of 15 – 19 years making more use of their bed nets while those at 40 years and above made least use of theirs. Women at their 2 nd trimesters of pregnancy utilized their bed nets most. Women within the age bracket of 15 -19 years and 20 -24 years utilized their bed nets better and experienced an average frequency of malaria episodes of 1 (once) while those who were 40 years and above made the least use of the bed nets and experienced the highest average frequency of malaria episodes of 5. An average frequency of malaria episode of 6 was observed among the primigravidae, while the secundigravidae who highly utilized their bed nets had an average episode of 4. Women in their 2 nd trimesters utilized bed nets most and had the least average malaria episode of 3. Those in their 1 st and 3 rd trimesters each had an average malaria episode of 6. Keywords: Utilization, Effectiveness, Bed nets, Malaria, Pregnancy. I. Background Malaria is a serious public health problem in most parts of the globe. It is a leading cause of death and disease in many developing countries. Malaria occurs mostly in poor, tropical and subtropical areas of the world. In Africa, malaria transmission is maintained by the presence of a very efficient vector, Anopheles gambiae, predominance of Plasmodium falciparum, optimum local conditions, scarce resources, poor environmental conditions and socio – politico – economic instabilities. The World Health Organization stated in the World Malaria Report 2011 that as at 2010, about 3.3 billion people live in areas at risk of malaria transmission in 106 countries and territories [1]. Two hundred and sixteen million clinical episodes and 655,000 deaths have been attributed to malaria and an estimated 91% deaths were in the African region. Africa is a malaria endemic region where approximately 25 million women become pregnant annually and are at risk of Plasmodium falciparum infections during pregnancy [2]. Malaria accounts for 60% of outpatient visits and 30% of hospitalization among children under 5 years of age in Nigeria [3]. It is a vector – borne devastating infectious disease. Pregnant women, children under 5 years of age and immunocompromised individuals are the people with the highest risk of malaria. Pregnant women infected with malaria usually have more severe symptoms and outcomes with higher rates of miscarriages, intrauterine damage, premature delivery, low birth weight neonates, neonatal deaths, severe anaemia and maternal death [4,6]. Malaria – associated maternal anaemia and low birth weight babies are more common in primigravidae than in multigravidae [6]. This is because the former have not acquired the natural immunity to placental malaria [7]. A mortality rate of about 50% attributed to severe malaria disease has been established in pregnant women [2]. Several measures such as use of insecticide – treated bednets, indoor residual spraying, larviciding, environmental management practices, community and public health education, intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPT) have been carried out in control of both malaria vectors and parasites in Nigeria.