INSECTICIDE TREATED BED NETS UTILIZATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN GECHI WOREDA, BUNNO BEDELE ZONE SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA: COMMUNITY BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY, 2024.

Background: Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITN) are a cost-effective vector control method for malaria prevention. ITN utilization interventions exist to reduce risk for vulnerable groups. However, information on ITN utilization among pregnant mothers is limited, especially in the rural community of Gachi woredas. Objective: the study aimed to assess insecticide-treated bed net utilization and associated factors among pregnant women in Gachi Woreda, district, South West Ethiopia, 2024 Methods: A Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Gachi Woreda from June 2024 to July 2024, involving 422 randomly selected pregnant mothers. Data was collected using a pretested questionnaire and logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with insecticide bed net usage. The variables with p-value less than 0.25 in the univariable analysis were included in the multivariate logistic regression model. Hosmer-Lemeshow's goodness of fit test was used to assess the necessary assumptions for the application of multivariate logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated with 95% CIs, and statistical significance was declared at p ≤ 0.05. Result: The finding of this study revealed that 93.9% the respondents had ITN and the current utilization status of pregnant mothers was 46.5% [41.7 % -51.3%]. The low level utilization was significantly associated with mothers' education [AOR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.28–0.81], parity [AOR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.30–3.03], Antenatal care (ANC) attendance [AOR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.21-2.58], and family size [AOR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.61-3.87]. Accordingly, mothers without formal education were 52% less likely to use ITN, while those with primpara were 1.98 times more likely. Those had family size less than five were 2.53 times more likely to use ITN. Pregnant mothers who attended at least one ANC visit were 2.08 times more likely to use ITN. Conclusion: The level of ITN utilization among pregnant mothers in the study setting is very low when compared with national target, which alarms for action to save the lives of life-giving mothers. It also highlights the importance of ANC visits in the reduction of maternal malaria and maternal education on the utilization of preventive measures. Therefore, the key players in maternal care should focus on awareness creation and enhancements of ANC follow-up to reduce illness during pregnancy, including deadly malaria, in the setting.