Association of importance of knowledge and good practices in the proper use of llins in relation to malaria morbidity in households with children under 5 in the Karisimbi Health Zone of Goma in North KIVU/DRC

Introduction: Malaria in children under the age of five is a major public health problem in the DRC. Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have been advocated as an effective tool against malaria transmission. However, the success of this intervention depends largely on knowledge of correct use and practices regarding malaria and its prevention. Few studies have been carried out on knowledge of the correct use of LLINs and practices regarding the correct use of LLINs in relation to malaria morbidity in children under 5 years of age. Methods: A cross-sectional community survey was conducted among 223 households of U5 selected in 19 health areas of the Karisimbi Health Zone using a multi-stage sampling technique. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the importance of LLINs and good practice in the correct use of LLINs in households with children under the age of 5. The correct use of LLINs was defined as the proportion of U5 who slept under the net the night before the survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and logistic regression at p < 0.05. Results: The association between variables showed that no variable on importance of knowledge and good practices in proper use of LLIN significantly explains malaria morbidity of children under five years in the household because the associated probability is greater than 5%. In addition, logistic cross-tabulation showed that household who did not use properly LLINs were 1.9 times more likely to have children under 5 suffering from malaria in the last 3 months. Findings showed that no variable linked to good practices in the proper use of LLINs significantly explained the number of cases of children under 5 who had contracted malaria during the last 3 months, given that all the probabilities were greater than 5% (p > 5%). Conclusion: The level of knowledge of respondents about the importance of correct use of LLINs and the practices of correct use of LLINs among households with children under the age of five was low. However, it is far from the target of 80%. Efforts should be made to further improve the level of knowledge on the correct use and practices of LLIN through intensified promotion of health education.