Prospect of Social Marketing in Enhancing the Acquisition and Utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) for the Prevention of Malaria in a Rural Area of Imo State, South-Eastern Nigeria

BackgroundProper utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) has been shown to be very effective in preventing malaria and in reducing the incidence of the disease. Getting people to buy and utilize ITNs has proven very difficult especially in low-income settings of sub-Saharan Africa where the disease is endemic. This research work, therefore assesses the effectiveness of the application of social marketing strategies in encouraging the acquisition and utilization of ITNs.Focus of the ArticleThe marketing mix concept which is usually referred to as the 4Ps of social marketing-price, place, product and promotion-were put to test to identify how the respondents will respond to variation in any of them. The research aims to assess the people’s response to a favorable change in the price of ITNs, product quality, product location and target advertisement.Research QuestionThe research questions that this study aimed to answer is; will the introduction of the traditional marketing mix of social marketing help drive the acquisition and utilization of ITNs by the people in rural communities of Imo State, Nigeria?Program Design/ApproachThe research report contained in this manuscript is targeted at health products (tangible and intangible) marketing researchers in resource-limited settings. These researchers who may not be able to afford the acquisition of large quantity health products like the ITNs to conduct their study can adopt the method employed in this study. Here the “prospect” of using social marketing strategies like the traditional marketing mix, to determine a possible increase in the acquisition and utilization of ITNs by the people.Importance to the Social Marketing FieldThis study describes how researchers in low-and-middle income countries could conduct a social marketing research on tangible products such as the ITN without really selling ITNs. The people’s intent to buy and use ITNs were assessed. More than 10 previous studies from as far back as 1999 were assessed, none of them employed the current methodology.MethodologyThis study was a descriptive cross-sectional study where a multi-stage sampling technique was employed to recruit the study participants.ResultsIt was found that 55.1% had ITNs, good utilization rate of 80.6% was recorded among those who possessed ITNs. Using the social marketing principle to assess respondents’ intent to own and use ITNs, an increase of 27.2%, 38.1%, 31.3%, and 35.9% will be achieved if the cost of acquiring ITNs becomes affordable, when ITNs become accessible, when practical guidance on use was provided, and when quality was improved. The study also revealed that, the vigorous pursue of social marketing techniques can enhance the sales of ITNs and its usage among the people.Recommendation for Research or PracticeThis study has justified the usefulness of social marketing in engendering positive behavioural change where people can be motivated to adopt a health innovation. It is therefore recommended that health innovations and products must be sold to the people using social marketing strategies as this has been proven not only to encourage adoption/acquisition, but also utilization.