The effect of household heads training about the use of treated bed nets on the burden of malaria and anaemia in under-five children: a cluster randomized trial in Ethiopia

Malaria Journal

Research

Tariku Dejene¹  Lelisa Sena¹  Fasil Tessema¹  Amare Deribew¹  Sibhatu Biadgilign¹  Fessehaye Alemseged¹  Morankar Sudhakar²  Zewdie Birhanu²  Ahmed Zeynudin³  Ayalu A Reda⁴  Kebede Deribe⁵ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia;Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia;Department of Medical Laboratory and Pathology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia;Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia;Faculty of public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia;

关键词: Malaria;    Focus Group Discussion;    Household Head;    Focus Group Discussion;    Project Period;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1475-2875-11-8

 received in 2011-09-18, accepted in 2012-01-06,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundLong-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLITN) have demonstrated a significant effect in reducing malaria-related morbidity and mortality. However, barriers on the utilization of LLITN have hampered the desired outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of community empowerment on the burden of malaria and anaemia in under-five children in Ethiopia.MethodsA cluster randomized trial was done in 22 (11 intervention and 11 control) villages in south-west Ethiopia. The intervention consisted of tailored training of household heads about the proper use of LLITN and community network system. The burden of malaria and anaemia in under-five children was determined through mass blood investigation at baseline, six and 12 months of the project period. Cases of malaria and anaemia were treated based on the national protocol. The burden of malaria and anaemia between the intervention and control villages was compared using the complex logistic regression model by taking into account the clustering effect. Eight Focus group discussions were conducted to complement the quantitative findings.ResultsA total of 2,105 household heads received the intervention and the prevalence of malaria and anaemia was assessed among 2410, 2037 and 2612 under-five children at baseline, six and 12 months of the project period respectively. During the high transmission/epidemic season, children in the intervention arm were less likely to have malaria as compared to children in the control arm (OR = 0.42; 95%CI: 0.32, 0.57). Symptomatic malaria also steadily declined in the intervention villages compared to the control villages in the follow up periods. Children in the intervention arm were less likely to be anaemic compared to those in the control arm both at the high (OR = 0.84; 95%CI: 0.71, 0.99)) and low (OR = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.60, 0.89) transmission seasons.ConclusionTraining of household heads on the utilization of LLITN significantly reduces the burden of malaria in under-five children. The Ministry of Health of Ethiopia in collaboration with other partners should design similar strategies in high-risk areas to control malaria in Ethiopia.Trial registrationAustralia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): ACTRN12610000035022

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Deribew et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd 2011