Insecticide-Treated Net Use

Behavior Profile Sample: Insecticide-Treated Net Use

A Behavior Profile is a summary analysis of each behavior. This sample draws from global evidence and illustrates the result of using the Create Behavior Profiles Tool to analyze factors, supporting actors and strategies and to ensure logical pathways exist between strategies proposed and factors related to the practice of the behavior. This sample may be used as a starting point or reference for creating Behavior Profiles.

Create Behavior Profiles

Health Goal	Improve maternal and child survival
Accelerator Behavior	Pregnant women and children sleep under an insecticide-treated net (ITN) Percentage of pregnant women who slept under an insecticide-treated net (ITN) the night before the survey Percentage of children under age five who slept under an insecticide-treated net (ITN) the night before the survey

Behavior Analysis	Strategy
STEPS What steps are needed to practice this behavior? Acquire sufficient ITNs to cover every sleeping space Hang ITNs appropriately Retreat, repair, or replace the net as needed Click on any box to see the pathwaysA pathway illustrates how elements in the Behavior Profile are linked. When read from right to left, a pathway highlights how strategies are expected to address the factors to enable adoption of the Accelerator Behavior. of the behavior.	FACTORS What factors may prevent or support practice of this behavior? These should be analyzed for each country context. Structural Accessibility: Stock for universal coverage distribution often differs from true need to cover every sleeping space Accessibility: In areas with weak ITN distribution systems, many cannot afford ITNs Social Norms: Malaria is frequently accepted as normal part of childhood and not believed to be something that can be avoided Gender: Pregnant women and children are often prioritized in cases of insufficient household ITN quantity Internal Attitudes and Beliefs: Many are motivated to use an ITN to avoid other pests (mice, roaches) at night through use of an ITN Attitudes and Beliefs: Many fear possible adverse outcomes due to insecticides used in ITNs Skills: Hanging an ITN can be a challenge due to lack of space in the house, changing sleeping spaces, net design issues or other	SUPPORTING ACTORS AND ACTIONS Who must support the practice of this behavior? Institutional Policymakers: Introduce local requirements for ITNs (length, shape preference, hanging considerations) in procurement process Managers: Ensure ITN distribution is coupled with counseling and ongoing monitoring of correct and consistent use, especially in non-permanent sleeping spaces (such as kitchens) Logistics Personnel: Use available tools (NetCALC) to ensure sufficient supply of ITNs for mass and continuous distribution Household Family Members: Obtain, hang and ensure everyone, especially pregnant women and children under five, sleeps under an ITN	POSSIBLE PROGRAM STRATEGIES How might we focus our efforts based on this analysis? Enabling Environment Financing: Monitor and ensure continuous availability of free nets for the most vulnerable Systems, Products and Services Products and Technology: Ensure procurement of ITNs matches housing and population needs Supply Chain: Ensure ITNs are continuously available at antenatal care visits and children under five visits Demand and Use Advocacy : Use community data on ITN use and malaria incidence to offer communities proof of behavior benefit and to create social accountability for practice of behavior Communication: Use media and one-on-one counseling to emphasize impact of malaria on most vulnerable (pregnant women and young children), efficacy of prevention, safety of ITNs, and better night’s sleep Communication: Use appropriate communication channels, including interpersonal communication at clinics, to reinforce importance of ITNs for most vulnerable and reposition beyond just health benefits of ITN use

Behavior Analysis

Strategy

STEPS

What steps are needed to practice this behavior?

Acquire sufficient ITNs to cover every sleeping space
Hang ITNs appropriately
Retreat, repair, or replace the net as needed

Click on any box
to see the pathwaysA pathway illustrates how elements in the Behavior Profile are linked. When read from right to left, a pathway highlights how strategies are expected to address the factors to enable adoption of the Accelerator Behavior.
of the behavior.

FACTORS

What factors may prevent or support practice of this behavior? These should be analyzed for each country context.

Structural

Accessibility: Stock for universal coverage distribution often differs from true need to cover every sleeping space

Accessibility: In areas with weak ITN distribution systems, many cannot afford ITNs

Social

Norms: Malaria is frequently accepted as normal part of childhood and not believed to be something that can be avoided

Gender: Pregnant women and children are often prioritized in cases of insufficient household ITN quantity

Internal

Attitudes and Beliefs: Many are motivated to use an ITN to avoid other pests (mice, roaches) at night through use of an ITN

Attitudes and Beliefs: Many fear possible adverse outcomes due to insecticides used in ITNs

Skills: Hanging an ITN can be a challenge due to lack of space in the house, changing sleeping spaces, net design issues or other

SUPPORTING ACTORS AND ACTIONS

Who must support the practice of this behavior?

Institutional

Policymakers: Introduce local requirements for ITNs (length, shape preference, hanging considerations) in procurement process

Managers: Ensure ITN distribution is coupled with counseling and ongoing monitoring of correct and consistent use, especially in non-permanent sleeping spaces (such as kitchens)

Logistics Personnel: Use available tools (NetCALC) to ensure sufficient supply of ITNs for mass and continuous distribution

Household

Family Members: Obtain, hang and ensure everyone, especially pregnant women and children under five, sleeps under an ITN

POSSIBLE PROGRAM STRATEGIES

How might we focus our efforts based on this analysis?

Enabling Environment

Financing: Monitor and ensure continuous availability of free nets for the most vulnerable

Systems, Products and Services

Products and Technology: Ensure procurement of ITNs matches housing and population needs

Supply Chain: Ensure ITNs are continuously available at antenatal care visits and children under five visits

Demand and Use

Advocacy : Use community data on ITN use and malaria incidence to offer communities proof of behavior benefit and to create social accountability for practice of behavior

Communication: Use media and one-on-one counseling to emphasize impact of malaria on most vulnerable (pregnant women and young children), efficacy of prevention, safety of ITNs, and better night’s sleep

Communication: Use appropriate communication channels, including interpersonal communication at clinics, to reinforce importance of ITNs for most vulnerable and reposition beyond just health benefits of ITN use

Download as PDF Download as PNG View Bibliography of Sources