ABSTRACT
Globally there has been an increase in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP). IDPs are a disadvantaged population and prone to numerous challenges including insecurity, sexual violence, poverty and malnutrition among others. For IDPs in malaria endemic countries, malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among vulnerable populations of under-five aged children and pregnant women.This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of malaria and utilization of Long Lasting Insecticidal Treated Nets among IDPs aged 6 - 59 months in FCT-Abuja. A cross-sectional community based survey was conducted in the 3 IDP Camps located in Abuja and a total enumeration of children aged 6-59 months was done. Mother - child pairs of children aged 6-59 months were interviewed using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Finger prick blood samples were collected from eligible consenting children and tested for malaria parasitaemia. A total of 393 children from 242 households were recruited. The prevalence of malaria was found to be 32% and 51% via RDT and malaria microscopy respectively. The LLIN ownership and coverage was 76.7% and 11.2% respectively. Utilisation was high with 89.7% of children aged 6-59 sleeping under an LLIN the night before the survey. The odds of LLIN utilization was higher in nets that were hanged (OR:55.9, 95% CI:18.12-172.14), those that lived near stagnant water (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.33-6.59 ),had owned the LLIN for 6 months or less, (OR: 2.6, 95% CI:1.20-5.57 ),Christians (OR:2.4, 95% CI: 1.10-5.62 ),and nets with holes (OR: 2.2, 95% CI:1.01-4.90),The odds of Malaria parasitaemia was significantly higher in females (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.08-2.61) and children who had traveled but not statistically significant (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 0.73-4.70) while those who owned LLINs for less than 6 months were less likely to have parasitaemia. (OR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.31-0.97). The prevalence of malaria among IDPs aged 6-59 months was high in spite of high ownership and utilization of LLIN.LLIN coverage was low and factors significantly associated with LLIN utilization were type of breeding sites near dwellings and net factors. There is need to improve coverage of LLIN among IDPs and explore other malaria preventive strategies like the use of pre-treated tarpaulins among IDPs.