Individual and household factors associated with ownership of long-lasting insecticidal nets and malaria infection in south-central Ethiopia: a case–control study

BACKGROUND: A recent considerable decline in malaria morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia is likely to be followed by changes in the practice of effective preventive measures and malaria risk factors. This study aimed to identify determinants of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) ownership and risk of malaria infection. METHODS: A matched case–control study of 191 case and 377 control households was conducted between October 2014 and November 2015 in Adami Tullu district in south-central Ethiopia. Cases were microscopy or rapid diagnostic test confirmed malaria patients identified at three health centers and nine health posts, and matched on age with two neighbourhood controls. Information was collected on socio-demographic factors, house structure, knowledge on malaria and ownership of LLINs. The logistic regression model was used to determine predictors of LLINs ownership and malaria infection. RESULTS: All cases were infections due to either Plasmodium falciparum (71.2%) or Plasmodium vivax (28.8%). About 31% of the study households had at least one LLINs. Significant determinants of LLINs ownership were household’s head malaria knowledge [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.44–4.22], educational status [read and write (AOR = 6.88, 95% CI 2.30–20.55), primary education or higher (AOR = 5.40, 95% CI 1.57–18.55)], farmer respondent (AOR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.17–0.76), having ≥ 3 sleeping areas (AOR = 6.71, 95% CI 2.40–18.77) and corrugated roof type (AOR = 2.49, 95% CI 1.36–4.58). This study was unable to identify important risk factors of malaria infection with regard to sex, household wealth index, house structure, ownership of LLINs, keeping livestock inside house, staying overnight outdoor or having malaria during the last 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Household socio-economic status, educational status and knowledge on malaria were important predictors of LLINs ownership. Households with farmer respondents were less likely to own LLINs. Addressing these factors could improve household’s ownership of LLINs. The importance of factors associated with malaria infection was less evident in the current low transmission setting, and necessitates further epidemiological study.