Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey ... - Measure DHS

11.1 OWNERSHIP AND USE OF MOSQUITO NETSThe use of ITNs is a primary health intervention to reduce malaria transmission in Tanzania.At the individual level, an ITN reduces biting intensities and offers protection against malaria.Widespread use of ITNs also reduces malaria at the population level by decreasing the length of adultmosquito life spans. ITNs are being promoted through three main channels: 1) the public sector, 2) thepublic/private partnerships implemented by nongovernmental organizations directly in communities,and 3) the private sector social marketing initiatives.Significant advances have been made in the technology of insecticide-treated nets (ITN).Long-lasting insecticide nets (LLIN) such as Olyset® or Permanet® are pre-treated by themanufacturer and remain effective up to three times longer than previous ITNs. Long-lasting syntheticpyrethroids liquid can also be applied to any net at home. These longer-lasting ITNs remain effectiveafter 15 washes on average, equivalent to use of approximately 36 months. These more effective netsmodify the earlier definition of an ITN as “a bed net soaked in a liquid containing syntheticpyrethroids within the past 12 months.”11.1.1 Ownership of Mosquito NetsAll households in the 2007-08 THMIS were asked whether they owned mosquito nets, and ifso, how many. Table 11.1 shows the household ownership of nets by type (treated or untreated) andthe average number of nets per household by background characteristics. More than half (56 percent)of households in Mainland Tanzania and 82 percent of households in Zanzibar own at least onemosquito net. In the 2004-05 TDHS, these figures were 46 and 65 percent, respectively.In this survey, an insecticide-treated net (ITN) is 1) a factory-treated net that does not requireany further treatment, or 2) a pretreated net obtained within the past 12 months, or 3) a net that hasbeen soaked with insecticide within the past 12 months. Between 2004-05 and 2007-08, ownership ofITNs increased from 23 to 38 percent in Mainland and from 28 to 72 percent in Zanzibar. Increasedlevels of mosquito net ownership in Zanzibar may be attributable to government health programmesthat since September 2005 have been distributing subsidized or free ITNs to households with childrenunder age five and pregnant women.Although coverage of mosquito nets in Mainland Tanzania is still low, three of the 21 regionsshow a substantial proportion of households with at least one mosquito net (89 percent in Dar esSalaam, 76 percent in Mwanza, and 77 percent Mara). Among regions in Mainland Tanzania, Iringahas the lowest level of mosquito net ownership (25 percent). Only two Mainland regions reached ITNownership levels of 50 percent or more (71 percent in Dar es Salaam and 57 percent in Mara). ITNownership was lowest in Iringa in both the 2004-05 TDHS and the 2007-08 THMIS (7 and 18percent, respectively).In the 2007-08 THMIS, rural households are less likely than urban households to own amosquito net (49 and 79 percent, respectively). A similar pattern was observed in the 2004-05 TDHS(36 and 74 percent, respectively). Ownership of ITNs has increased since the 2004-05 TDHS;households with at least one ITN rose from 14 to 33 percent in rural areas, and from 47 to 59 percentin urban areas.134 | Malaria