A timeseries analysis on the relationship between the distribution of long-lasting treated mosquito nets and the prevalence of infant mortality rate in Uganda: case study of Uganda 2010 to 2020.

Abstract

The study aimed at determining the relationship between infant mortality rates and the number of long lasting treated mosquito nets in Uganda in the last ten years focusing on the institutional infant mortality. This was to help boost the major aim of the health which is improved public health and also id Uganda realize her vision 2040 and the international Sustainable Development Goals. The study used secondary data from the Ministry of Health from 2010 to 2021 majorly on the number of nets as the independent variable and infant mortality rate as the dependent variable, the analysis was done on both the univariate and bivariate level using SPSS as the statistical tool to answer the research objectives. The study ascertained a statistically significant and robust strong negative linear relationship between infant mortality and the number of long lasting treated mosquito nets distributed (p-value 0.000). There was also a strong negative correlation (r= -0.968) between infant mortality rate and the number of long lasting treated mosquito nets. It was also evident that Uganda did not met the World Health Organization average level of infant mortality rate tough the trend of infant mortality rate decreased over the years. The study contributed to the existing knowledge in that it helped to empirically quantify the relationship and fill the gap particularly expounding the infant mortality rate due to malaria not the overall mortality in Uganda as infants were the most vulnerable. It further gave insights and concern to the non-institutional mortality rates to better explain the phenomenon. The findings can better be used in policy formulation and its recommendations can shape the health system foe better performance which included; Setting strict rules concerning the usage of mosquito nets in Uganda, Sensitization of the public about other means to fight malaria not to wait to receive bed nets from the MoH and Increasing the proportion of the national budget allocated to health. In conclusion, this research emphasizes the critical role of net distribution in reducing infant mortality rates. It provides policy makers, healthcare professionals. And public health organizations with valuable insights to inform evidence based interventions aimed at improving child health outcomes and reducing the burden of infant mortality.