Household bednet ownership and use in Ghana: Implications for malaria control

Abstract

The distribution of insecticide bednets has become a key malaria control strategy in endemic regions. The literature, however, points to a gap between availability and use. Using nationally representative household data from Ghana, this study investigates the factors that associate with household bednet ownership and use among minor children. The results indicate that more than half of Ghanaian households do not own any bednet; while among those who do, household crowding and other socio-demographic factors tend to impede their use. This notwithstanding, the analysis suggests that scaling up bednet distribution could facilitate increased use among vulnerable populations.