author(s)
Iwunze JI, Amaechi AA, Nwoke MC, Njoku FU and Okeke OI

abstract
Malaria still constitutes a serious public health problem in Nigeria despite control efforts. This study assessed the prevalence of malaria among users and non users of Insecticide treated net in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State State, South East Nigeria. Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) was used to determine their malaria status and complemented with structural questionnaire and focal group discussion. Result obtained showed that out of the 300 participants 68 representing 22.6% had malaria. One hundred and ninety two representing (64.0%) respondents acquired their ITN from NGOs. However, (60.6%) respondents were ITNs users while (39.3%) were not users of ITNs. Males had higher parasitemia than Females (57.3% and 42.6%) respectively (P>0.05). Participants of the age and gender 41-50 years had the highest prevalence of malaria (39.6%). Prevalence of malaria among individuals using ITNs showed that people that never used ITNs had the highest prevalence of malaria compared to people that uses it sometimes and always (85.2%, 10.2% and 4.4%) respectively. Among the reasons for Non use of ITNs Heat inside the net was the commonest reason (43.2%). There is need for community health education to erase negative beliefs, cultural practices and behavioural patterns of the inhabitants.