Distribution of Subsidized Insecticide-treated Bed Nets through a Community Health Committee in Boboye Health District, Niger
10.2149/tmh.2012-06
- Author:
Daisuke Nonaka
;
Abani Maazou
;
Shigeo Yamagata
;
Issofou Oumarou
;
Takako Uchida
;
Honoré JG Yacouba
;
Jun Kobayashi
;
Tsutomu Takeuchi
;
Tetsuya Mizoue
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
insecticide-treated bed net;
community-based net distribution;
community participation;
malaria;
Niger
- From:Tropical Medicine and Health
2012;40(4):125-131
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
In Niger, insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) have been distributed to the target group of households with young children and/or pregnant women at healthcare facilities in the course of antenatal/immunization clinics. With the aim of universal coverage, ITNs were additionally distributed to households through strengthened community health committees in 2009. This study assessed the impact of the community-based net distribution strategy involving community health committees in the ITN coverage in Boboye Health District, Niger. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 1,034 households drawn from the intervention area (the co-existence of the community-based system together with the facility-based system) and the control area (the facility-based system alone). In the intervention area, 55.8% of households owned ITNs delivered through the community-based system, and 29.6% of households exclusively owned ITNs obtained through the community-based system. The community-based system not only reached households within the target group (54.6% ownership) but also those without (59.1% ownership). Overall, household ITN ownership was significantly higher in the intervention area than in the control area (82.5% vs. 60.7%). In combination, the community-based system and the facility-based system achieved a high ITN coverage. The community-based system contributed to reducing leakage in the facility-based system.
