Insecticide treated nets coverage and utilization among household members in gode district, gode zone, somali region, eastern Ethiopia

Background: Malaria is a major public health problem in Ethiopia. Somali Region is one of malaria endemic areas in the country. It’s known that the use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) is one of most important malaria preventive methods. However, there are no studies concerning ITNs utilization and factors associated with its utilization in Gode district. The objective of the study is to assess the ITNs coverage, utilization and associated factors at household (HH) level in Gode District, Somali Region, Gode zone, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A Cross sectional study was conducted in 2010, in Gode district of Gode Zone, Somali Region. A total of 695 families from two urban kebeles and three rural kebeles were included in the survey by using a multistage sampling technique. Only quantitative data collection method through interview with pre-tested semi structured questionnaire and observation of the households were used. The data was cleaned, entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 16. Results: Out of 753 households planned 695 (92.3%) households were interviewed, out of which half (50.5%) were from rural residence. Among the total HHs studied, 520 (74.8%) reported having one or more ITNs of which almost all (99.2%) reported using it the night prior to the study day. Children below five years of age and pregnant mothers who slept under ITNs in the previous night before the survey day were 398 (75.0%) and 153 (79.7) respectively. Four hundred twenty one (60.7%) of total respondents have had information about ITNs utilization. Those who have information about ITNs were 11.56 time more likely to use ITNs than did not have information (AOR= 11.56, 95% CI= 7.39, 18.10). Farmers and livestock owners were 0.31 and 0.13 times less likely to have ITNs than merchant (AOR= 0.31and 0.13, 95% CI= 0.14, 0.68 and 0.05, 0.32) respectively. Conclusion: The ITNs coverage in the study area is encouraging, but there is still 25% gap which is a significant gap that need to be filled. However, the available ITNs utilization is very high, i.e. almost all families who have ITNs are using it. The proportion of under five children and pregnant mothers who slept under ITNs during the night preceding the survey day was found to be promising. It is recommended that ITNs availability at community level should be promoted and effective information education and communication/behavior change communication (IEC/BCC) be in place to increase the ITNs utilization. Moreover, large-scale studies on ITNs coverage and utilization should be considered in the future.