A Review of the Literature on Insecticide Treated Bed Net Use, Anaemia and Malaria Parasitaemia in Under Five Children

Abstract

Insecticide Treated bed Net (ITN) is considered to be the most efficacious of all currently feasible interventions for malaria control in Africa. However, lack of data on its use in under five children has made it difficult to keep tract of its efficacy in this population. This study was aimed at pooling published data from parts of Africa and Asia with the hope of providing an overview of the use of ITNs and its efficacy in children under five years of age. Literature search was carried out Pubmed, Pubmedcentral, MEDLINE, and Cochrane library for all published articles between 1991 and 2015 using search strings such as under five children, ITN, malaria parasitaemia, anaemia, protective efficacy, ownership and use, pattern of deployment and types of ITN. Based on specific criteria, 30 studies were included. Few countries have met the ITN coverage target of 80% including Nigeria, with coverage rates ranging from about 69% to 75%. ITN use in under five children has been shown to reduce the prevalence of malaria and anaemia in areas unstable malaria transmission to a variable degree. ITN possession does not always translate to usage and consistent use is required for effective malaria control.