Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2001-2002 - Measure DHS

10.1.1 Use of Bednets by Children and Pregnant WomenIn the 2001-2002 ZDHS, respondents for the household questionnaire were asked about the use ofbednets by the household members during the previous night. Since the prevalence of malaria-carryingmosquitoes varies seasonally, with a peak during and immediately following periods of rain, use of bednetsmay be expected to follow a similar seasonal pattern. The 2001-2002 ZDHS was conducted during the periodwhen malaria is prevalent in Zambia, i.e., November to May.Table 10.2 presents information on use ofbednets by children. Results presented in the table showthat 16 percent of children under five years werereported as having slept under a mosquito net the nightbefore the survey, with 7 percent of children reported ashaving slept under an ITN. The table also shows thatchildren in urban areas are more likely to sleep under amosquito net (22 percent) than their rural counterparts(14 percent).The proportion of children who sleep under anytype of mosquito net ranges from a high of 23 percent inLuapula and 22 percent in North-Western provinces, toa low of 8 percent in Southern province. The percentageof children who sleep under ITNs is highest in Eastern(13 percent) and Luapula provinces (10 percent) andlowest in Southern province (2 percent).Table 10.3 shows the percentage of all womenand pregnant women who slept under a mosquito net thenight before the survey. Malaria is especially dangerousduring pregnancy and this has prompted many advocacycampaigns to educate not only pregnant women, but alsothe general public on the importance of preventingmalaria during pregnancy. However, results from the2001-2002 ZDHS indicate that less than one in fivepregnant women (18 percent) sleeps under a mosquitonet, and only 8 percent sleep under an ITN. The dataindicate that pregnant women are no more likely thanother women to sleep under a mosquito net or an ITN.Table 10.2 Use of mosquito nets by childrenPercentage of children under age five years who slept under amosquito net the night before the survey and percentage whoslept under an insecticide treated net, by background characteristics,Zambia 2001-2002BackgroundcharacteristicPercentage who slept undera bednet last nightInsecticide-Any net treated net 1Number ofchildrenAge in months