Barriers and Facilitators to Effective Malaria Prevention among Caregivers of Under-Five Children in Isiala Mbano LGA, Imo State

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@article{1708353,
      author = {Enwerem Augustina Chidi},
      title = {Barriers and Facilitators to Effective Malaria Prevention among Caregivers of Under-Five Children in Isiala Mbano LGA, Imo State},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2025},
      volume = {8},
      number = {11},
      pages = {427-436},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1708353.pdf},
      abstract = {Background: Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five in sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria bearing 25% of the global burden. Although preventive tools such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) are widely promoted, their effective uptake in rural communities is often hindered by contextual barriers. This study identified the key barriers and facilitators influencing malaria prevention practices among caregivers of under-five children in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in twelve public health facilities, recruiting 403 consenting caregivers by multistage sampling. A pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire assessed socio-demographic characteristics, malaria knowledge, preventive practices, perceived barriers, and proposed solutions. Data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS v25.
Results: All respondents (100%) had heard of malaria, with social media (63.5%) and health workers (26.8%) as primary information sources. While 98.3% correctly identified Plasmodium as the causative agent, only 38.2% knew that malaria transmission requires an infected Anopheles bite. Nearly 93% reported encountering barriers to prevention: 61.1% cited the high cost of ITNs and repellents, and 35.3% reported allergic or respiratory reactions to chemical methods. Behavioral discomfort (61.5% heat under nets) and lack of net ownership (26.3%) further limited use. Caregivers recommended free ITN distribution (71.2%), access to free treatment (17.1%), and regular environmental sanitation (10.7%) as key facilitators.
Conclusion: Despite high malaria awareness, economic constraints, safety concerns, and comfort issues substantially impede the adoption of integrated prevention strategies. Expanding free ITN campaigns, coupling them with community-driven education on safe IRS use and improved net designs, and integrating environmental management into local WASH initiatives could enhance uptake and reduce under-five malaria morbidity and mortality in Isiala Mbano.},
      keywords = {Malaria prevention; Caregivers; Under-five children; Barriers and facilitators; Insecticide-treated nets; Indoor residual spraying; Rural Nigeria.},
      month = {May},
  }