Attitude and practices of Katakwi people towards Long lasting Insecticidal net usage.

Abstract

This study focused on attitude and perceptions of Katakwi people towards long-lasting insecticidal nets. This study also examined the factors influencing long-lasting insecticidal net usage practices. The descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed while the representative sample was selected using a combination of purposive sampling and random sampling. The data was collected by conducting in-depth interviews with the household heads, using the language that they best understood, and during the interview session, observation was done together with taking of some recordings. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. The permission was sought from Katakwi district health department and the local leadership. The participants signed a consent form to show their willingness to participate in the study and this was a voluntary process. The participants expressed positive attitude towards long-lasting insecticidal nets, mentioning that they are very effective in preventing mosquito bites and Malaria infection. It was also found that, participants use long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) consistently despite the net insufficiency and the heat during dry season. The participants noted a positive impact on the community, with reduced Malaria cases attributed to LLIN usage. The challenges related to availability of LLINs including delays in distribution and insufficient nets were identified. The presence of children under the age of five years was found to be reinforcement for positive attitude and perceptions towards LLIN usage.