Rapid scale-up of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets through integration into the national immunization program during child health week in Togo, 2004
Wolkon, A.; Vanden Eng, J.L.; Morgah, K.; Eliades, M.James.; Thwing, J.; Terlouw, D.J.; Takpa, V.; Dare, A.; Sodahlon, Y.K.; Doumanou, Y.; Hightower, A.W.; Lama, M.; Thawani, N.; Slutsker, L.; Hawley, W.A.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 83(5): 1014-1019
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 21036829 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0599Document Number: 215350
In December 2004, Togo was the first country to conduct a nationwide free insecticide-treated net (ITN) distribution as part of its National Integrated Child Health Campaign. Community-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted one and nine months post-campaign as part of a multidisciplinary evaluation of the nationwide distribution of ITNs to children 9-59 months of age to evaluate ITN ownership, equity, and use. Our results demonstrated that at one month post-campaign, 93.1% of all eligible children received an ITN. Household ITN ownership and equity increased significantly post-campaign. Nine months post-campaign, 78.6% of households with a child eligible to participate in the campaign retained at least one campaign net. Use by eligible children was 43.5% at one month post-campaign (during the dry season) and 52.9% at nine months post-campaign (during the rainy season). Household ownership of at least one ITN increased from 8.0% pre-campaign to 62.5% one month post-campaign. Together, these findings demonstrate that in this setting, increased household ITN ownership, equity, and retention can be achieved on a national scale through free ITN distribution during an integrated campaign.