Rationale for use

In areas of intense malaria transmission, malaria-related morbidity and mortality are concentrated in young children, and the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITN) by children under 5 has been demonstrated to considerably reduce malaria disease incidence, malaria-related anaemia and all cause under 5 mortality. Vector control through the use of ITNs constitute one of the four intervention strategies of the Roll Back Malaria Initiative. It is also listed as an MDG indicator.

Definition

Percentage of children under five years of age in malaria endemic areas who slept under an ITN the previous night, ITN being defined as a mosquito net that has been treated within 12 months or is a long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN).

Associated terms

Malaria-risk areas include areas of stable malaria transmission (allowing the development of some level of immunity) and areas of unstable malaria transmission (seasonal and less predictable transmission impeding the development of effective immunity).

Data sources

Household surveys such as Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Malaria Indicator Surveys (MIS), and 'rider' questions on other representative population-based surveys , that include questions on whether children under five years of age slept under an ITN the previous night.

Methods of estimation


Empirical data only.


Disaggregation





By age, location (urban/rural, major regions/provinces), and socio-economic characteristics (e.g. education level, wealth quintile)


Notes





Countries where latest year of data is 2000:


• Azerbijan


• Central African Republic


• Chad


• Colombia


• Comoros


• Cote d'Ivoire


• Equatorial Guinea


• Guatemala


• Guinea-Bissau


• Indonesia


• Madagascar


• Niger


• Rwanda


• Sao Tome and Principe


• Senegal


• Sierra Leone


• Suriname


• Swaziland


• Tajikistan


• Togo


• Viet Nam




Countries where latest year of data is 2001:


• Angola


• Benin


• Chad


• Democratic Republic of the Congo


• Uganda




Countries where latest year of data is 2002:


• Eritrea


• Lao People's Democratic Republic


• Timor-Leste


• Zambia




Countries where latest year of data is 2003:


• Burkina Faso


• Ghana


• Kenya


• Nigeria




Countries where latest year of data is 2004:


• Cameroon


• Malawi


• Mauritania