Objective: Malaria in Laos disproportionately affects children in the southern provinces. This study identifies determinants of insecticide treated net (ITN) ownership, ITN use by all family members, and malaria incidence among children in southern Laos.
Methods: Analysis of cross-sectional data collected in 2006 by Population Services International/Laos using a randomized sample.
Results: Determinants of ITN use by all family members include: ITN ownership, family size, and knowledge of malaria risk to children. ITN use was not found to be protective against malaria infections in children.
Conclusion: Increasing rates of ITN use by all family members will require improving ITN coverage at the household level and knowledge of malaria risk to children. More research is needed to determine whether ITNs are an effective long-term malaria prevention strategy in southern Laos.