Preventive Measures Employed Against Mosquito Bites And Associated Risk Factors In Sabon Gari, Girei, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Background: Mosquitoes being vectors of malaria and other arthropod-borne diseases continually pose a serious threat to public health, especially in tropical environments and developing countries. This study aimed to determine the preventive measures employed against mosquito bites and associating risk factors among residents of Sabon Gari, Girei, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Methods and materials: A total of two hundred and fifty structured questionnaires were interview administered to respondents residing in Sabon Gari, Girei, Adamawa State. Information captured included the demographics and methods used to prevent mosquito bites. Chi-square test was used to test for association between categorical variables using GraphPad Prism version 7.04. Values of P ≤ 0.05 were considered significant Results: Out of 250 respondents, 154 (61.6%) of the respondents were males while 96 (38.4%) of the respondents were females. A total of 160 (64%), 48 (19.2%) 32 (12.8%) and 10 (4%) respondents were within 18–25, 26–35, 36–45 and 46 and above years of age respectively. The most commonly used preventive method was insecticide-treated nets (43.2%), followed by insecticide spray (35.2%) and then mosquito coil/screens (21.6%). A total of 70 (28%), 52 (20.8%) and 32 (12.8%) of the males used insecticide-treated nets, Insecticide spray and Mosquito coil/screen respectively while only 38 (15.2%), 36 (14.4%) and 22 (8.8%) of the females used insecticide-treated nets, Insecticide spray and Mosquito coil/screen. There was a significant association (P < 0.05) between age and occupation of respondents and the preventive methods used in preventing mosquito bite. Students mostly preferred insecticide-treated nets 82 (32.8%) to insecticide sprays 78 (31.2%) and mosquito coil/screens (14.4%) while civil servants preferred only insecticide-treated nets 14 (5.6%) and insecticide sprays 6 (2.4%). Farmers preferred only insecticide-treated nets 2 (0.8%) and mosquito coil/screens 6 (2.4%). Traders preferred mosquito coils/screens more 12 (4.8%) than insecticide-treated nets 10 (4%) and Insecticide spray 4 (1.6%). Conclusion: Insecticide-treated nets and insecticide spray are the commonly used preventive measures against mosquito bites in Girei, Adamawa State Nigeria. Age and Occupation of respondents are risk factors. The occupation and financial strength of the respondents play a vital role in the choice of preventive method used against mosquito bites.