Determinants of insecticide treated net utilization for under-five children in Ghana

Abstract

Mustapha Immurana1, Arabi Urmi1

Background: Malaria is regarded as one of the most dangerous killers of children in the world of which Ghana is no exception. However, one of the most effective means of preventing malaria is the utilization of insecticide-treated net (ITN). This has necessitated various mass ITN distribution drives in various countries including Ghana. However, a recent report shows a very low ITN utilization among under-five children in Ghana. Methods: This study used the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey as the source of data as well as the binary probit model as the empirical estimation technique. Results: The study revealed that children from urban areas, older children, children with older household heads, children from wealthy families, Muslim children, children from the Northern, Greater Accra, and Upper East regions, and children of mothers with big problems with regard to getting permission and money to seek medical care were less likely to have utilized ITN. Also, mothers with primary and secondary education, mothers with health insurance, and mothers with big problems concerning the distance to access health facility were revealed to be more likely to have utilized ITN for their children. Conclusion: It can therefore be concluded from the binary probit regression that deepening the free maternal health insurance policy, intensifying the behavior change communication campaigns on ITN utilization in regions, and creating women empowerment through education as well as targeting uneducated mothers could be some of the effective strategies that can be employed to increase ITN utilization among children in Ghana.