Bedbug Infestation Affects Utilization of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets in Kola Shara, South-West Ethiopia: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract Background: Despite the social and psychological influences posed by bedbugs, so far there is no pest control to aver their public health impacts in Ethiopia. In addition, bedbugs are assumed to compromise the effective utilization of chemical-based malaria vector control like mosquito nets. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the influences of bedbug infestation on long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) utilization in rural settings like Kola Shara, south-west Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based longitudinal study was conducted between April and December 2017 in 330 households who obtained new LLINs. Socio-demographic, geolocation, bedbug infestation of LLINs and utilization status of the households was documented by trained data collectors. Descriptive statistics was employed to describe the findings. Result: Bedbug infestation and the subsequent removal net varied among each round. Although varying from month to month, there was a consistent decline in the number of nets in use. During round one and round two 11.8% (39/330) and 15.4% (51/330) nets were not in place, respectively. Moreover, the number of nets removed during round three increased to 30.6% (101/330) and a slight reduction to 27% (89/330) during round four. Both corrugated iron and thatched tukuls roof types (93.4%, 256/274 versus 92.9%, 52/56) had similar prevalence of bedbug infestation during the baseline survey, April 2017. Prevalence of bedbug infestation was similar for both types of floors, 89.4% (245/274) in mud and (89.1% (50/56) with plastic. The proportion of LLINs infested by bedbugs has shown an increasing trend (81.8%, 270/330; 93.3%, 308/330; 92.1%, 304/330; 94.5%, 312/330) during Rounds 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the role of LLINs infestation by bedbug that not only discouraged its persistent utilization but also discarded too early in less than six months. It is recommendable to design integrated vector control options that address pests of public health significance for a collateral benefit in malaria control. Furthermore, similar studies might emphasize on varying epidemiological settings.