Factors Associated with Acceptance of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) among Residents of Luwingu District, Northern Province of Zambia.

IntroductionIndoor Residual Spraying (IRS) is a crucial intervention for malaria control, yet its acceptability in urban areas remains understudied, particularly in Luwingu District, Zambia. This research aimed to estimate acceptance of IRS and identify the factors associated with its acceptability in an urban setting of this area that has holoendemic transmission of malaria. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered to 344 households. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS. 28.0) included descriptive statistics and logistic regression to identify factors associated with IRS acceptability. ResultsA total of 344 household heads were interviewed in this study, out of which only a third (93/344) were female. Among the surveyed households, 53.3% reported being sprayed with IRS, while 46.8% were not and the difference was not statistically significant. The analysis revealed several key factors influencing IRS acceptability. Age was found to be significant, with younger individuals more likely to accept IRS. Similarly, those in formal employment and those with good attitudes towards IRS were likely to accept IRS implementation. On the other hand, sex and marital status were not associated with IRS acceptability. ConclusionThis study found that Indoor Residual Spraying in an urban community of an area that has holoendemic transmission of malaria covered only about half of the households. The factors associated with acceptance of IRS included younger age group below 35 years compared to those aged 36 years and older, those in formal employment compared to those in informal employment and those with moderate and good attitudes towards IRS. On the other hand, sex, marital status and educational levels if the heads of the households were not statistically associated with acceptance of IRS implementation in their households.