Quantifying the effect of environmental factors on mosquito larvae control in a Nigerian community
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Date
2016-06-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Exposure and Health
Abstract
This study quantified the effect of environmental
factors on mosquito larvae control in Okelele
community, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria. A community-based,
cross-sectional study was conducted using a 3-stage
random sampling technique to select Zones, Households
and 200 parents/guardians and their children under
14 years of age. Interviews were conducted using a semistructured
questionnaire and key informant interview
guide. In addition, water samples from potholes, stagnant
water and drainages were collected for mosquito larvae
counts using the Bourne method. The mean age of houses
was 33.4 ± 11.9 years (Range 1–70) and 58.0 % were
built with mud. The mean household population was
6.1 ± 3.1 (Range 1–17), 28.0 % of the respondents (fathers)
had no formal education. Most of the houses
(99.0 %) had open drainages in their vicinities and 91.9 %
were stagnant. Some (65.5 %) of the households had door
nets, 17.0 % had mosquito nets, while 13.5 % had Insecticide-
Treated Nets (ITN). The environmental problems
stated by the respondents were inappropriate solid waste
disposal methods, lack of potable water and lack of sanitation
facilities. Mean anti-vectors practice score of the
respondents was 4.9 ± 2.9 and majority (78.5 %) had poor
anti-vector practices. Respondents with primary education
(OR 0.28; CI 0.09–0.85), secondary education (OR 0.31;
CI 0.10–0.94) and tertiary education (OR 0.28; CI
0.07–0.72) were less likely to have poor anti-vector practices
compared to those with no formal education. The
mosquito’s larva distribution values per litre in Amuyankan,
Omoboriowo, Lowin, Jagun and Babaladifa were
21 ± 6.7, 12 ± 2.9, 25 ± 4.9, 02 ± 1.0 and 17 ± 5.1
respectively. The estimated Larva counts per square meter
were 2658 (Amuyankan), 1519 (Omoboriowo), 3165
(Lowin), 253 (Jagun) and 2152 (Babaladifa). Irrespective
of the larval count, majority had poor anti-vector practices
and this was most common among those with no formal
education.
Description
Keywords
Anti-vector practices, Mosquito larvae distribution, Environmental problems, Open drains, Education