Background: In 2010, Uganda Malaria Control Programme distributed
cost-free mosquito bed nets to households with children under-five
years and pregnant women in selected sub-counties. We assessed the
factors associated with sleeping under costfree mosquito nets among
children under-five years in Nyakayojo sub-county, Mbarara District,
Uganda. Methods: 381 households with at least a child under-five years
and benefited from cost-free bed nets in Nyakayojo were randomly
selected. Caregivers of children were interviewed using a
questionnaire. Results: 74% children slept under bed nets a night
before the study. Children from households with 652 nets
[aOR=1.75; 95% CI: 1.09-2.81, p=0.02], female caregiver [aOR=2.11; 95%
CI: 1.16-3.79, p=0.01] and children from households that did not face
problems (skin irritation, torn nets, suffocation, night sweating,
nasal congestion and candle fire) when sleeping under bed nets
[aOR=1.81; 95% CI: 1.10-2.98, p=0.02] were more likely to use nets.
Main reason for not sleeping under a net was damage to the net (47.1%).
Conclusion: The proportion of children sleeping under nets was
comparable to MDG target. Improvements in use of mosquito nets by
children can be achieved through increasing number of nets in a
household. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.7 Cite as:
Andinda M, Mulogo E, Turyakira E, Batwala V. Predictors of sleeping
under cost-free mosquito bed nets among children under-five years in
Mbarara, Uganda: a household survey. Afri Health Sci. 2019;19(1):
1353-1360. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.