Abstract:
Background: Household vectors transmit pathogens from one child to another.
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and determinants of household
vectors on child health.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted,
during which a total of 846 household data were collected using a pretested
questionnaire and simple random sampling technique. The data was entered into
EpiData3.4 and then exported to Stata 14 software for analysis. A multivariable
logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify significant factors
associated with household vectors that contribute child health problems. The
correspondence analysis was used to determine statistically significant effects
or associations between household vectors and child health problems, that was
explained by the percentage of variance.
Results: This study revealed that the prevalence of household vector effects
among children was 35.5% suchas itching, allergies, nuisances and aesthetically
displeasing factors. Households with no formal education were significantly
36% less likely to be affected compared to their counterparts (AOR 0.64, 95% CI
0.41, 0.99). Housewives are significantly 2.21 times more likely to be bexposed
to household vectors compared to government workers (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.23,
3.70). Caregivers who had limited awareness of household vectors were 98.6%
less likely to be affected compared to their counterparts (AOR 0.014; 95% CI
0.01–0.04). Similarly, children from households that consumed less than 20
liters of water per individual were 1.45 times more likely to be at risk compared
to children from households that consumed more water (AOR 1.45, 95% CI
1.02, 2.07). The infestations of household vectors were found to be statistically
significant and were associated with the occurrence of child health problems.
This significant association accounted for 86.8 percent of the explained variance.
Conclusion: Addressing the high burden of household vectors on child
health requires interventions that target informal education, limited access
to information, and inadequate access to safe water. Implementing effective
vector control measures is crucial to reduce the incidence of vector-borne
diseases among children
