Determinants of Utilization of Malaria Prevention Strategies in Mariakani, Kilifi County

Purpose: This study investigated the utilization of malaria prevention strategies in Mariakani area in Kilifi County, Coastal Kenya.Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study design was adopted. Three hundred and eighty five (385) households were targeted in Kadzonzo, Mitangoni and Township Locations. The Locations were selected using random sampling technique while the respective households in the Locations were randomly selected. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted and significance tests conducted at 5% level of significance. Frequency tables, graphs and charts were used to present the findings. Only 327 households were positively identified and the house hold successfully interviewed.Results: The study established that most of the inhabitants of this area (86.5%) had suffered from malaria in the past. Majority of the inhabitants in this area were aware that malaria is caused by mosquito bites (from Anopheles mosquitoes) and so to protect themselves or members of their households, majority of them knew that they needed to sleep under insecticide treated mosquito nets, as well as cut surrounding bushes. Case management was utilized by a majority of the inhabitants, specifically because it is the most common and effective way of treating malaria in Kenya. Utilization of case management as a malaria prevention strategy was mainly determined by recent malaria experience. Utilization of ITNs was significantly influenced by past malaria history (occurrence vs. non-occurrence), knowledge of existence of ITNs and the experience of having used an ITN in the past. Use of IPT was dependent on past malaria experience, knowledge regarding mosquitoes as a source of malaria and knowledge about the existence of IPT. It can be concluded that Mariakani is a malaria prone area with most of the inhabitants highly exposed to the risk of contracting malaria at any one given time. However, the residents here are aware of the need to visit health facility or dispensing chemist to get immediate medication in case of suspicion of a malaria case. The awareness of the spread of malaria together with utilization of various malaria prevention strategies had contributed to the low malaria incidences in the recent past.Policy recommendation: It is recommended that there should be sustained awareness creation efforts by public health departments at the County and at the National level on the IPT, especially among pregnant women and children in this area. There is need for carring out further studies in Mariakani, Kilifi County to establish the effectiveness of each of the methods of preventing malaria in the area, and how best all these methods can be integrated in the fight against malaria in this area.