ABSTRACT

The study compared the accessibility and utilization of insecticide treated nets between urban and rural farm households in Akwa Ibom State. The specific objectives were to: identify the socio-economic characteristics of respondents, ascertain perceived factors that influence access to insecticide treated nets, ascertain perceived factors that influence the use of insecticide treated nets, determine the extent of accessibility to insecticide treated nets and determine the level of utilization of insecticide treated nets in the study area. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 208 farm households for the study. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean, frequency, percentages and Z-test. The result showed that the mean age of urban households was 44 years while the mean age of rural households was 42 years. Incapacitation ( = 2.92), financial insecurity ( = 2.87) and reduced farm labour ( = 2.73) were perceived effect of malaria incidence on urban households. Financial insecurity ( = 3.02), reduced farm labour ( = 2.98) and reduced agricultural output ( = 2.69) were perceived effect of malaria incidence on rural households. Long period of time to process in the hospital (  = 2.66) and health workers not distributing ITN at home ( = 2.63) were positive factors influencing access to insecticide treated nets among urban households. Location of hospital (  = 2.68) and health workers not distributing ITN at home ( = 2.53) were positive factors influencing access to insecticide treated nets among rural households. Perceived risk in using insecticide treated net due to chemical used in treating the net ( = 2.88), no electricity to put on fan ( = 2.87) and hot weather ( = 2.85) were regarded as positive factors influencing utilization of insecticide treated net among urban households. Community beliefs ( = 2.95) and hot weather ( = 2.92) were regarded as positive factors influencing utilization of insecticide treated nets among rural households. The result also showed that there was high level of utilization of insecticide treated nets by children (  = 2.66), pregnant mothers (  = 2.62) and during rainy season (  = 2.57) among urban households, while there was also low level of utilization of insecticide treated net by children (  = 2.44) and during rainy season (  = 2.39) among rural households. The results revealed that there was significant difference between the extent of accessibility to insect treated nets among urban and rural farm households at 5% significance level. There was also significant difference in the level of utilization of insect treated nets between urban and rural households at 5% significance level. The study concluded that access and utilization of insecticide treated nets was generally higher among urban households than rural households in the study area. It therefore recommended that the government and non-governmental organizations should educate rural and urban farm households on the effective use of insecticide treated nets for malaria control/prevention to improve farmers’ health and agricultural productivity.