Quantifying the Effect of Environmental Factors on Mosquito Larvae Control in a Nigerian Community

摘要

This study quantified the effect of environmental factors on mosquito larvae control in Okelele community, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria. A communitybased, 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 metre 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.