Hubungan Upaya Pencegahan Dengan Kejadian Malaria di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Lahomi Kabupaten Nias Barat

Background: Malaria remains a significant public health issue, particularly in endemic areas such as West Nias Regency. Household-based prevention strategies, including the use of bed nets, repellents, and mosquito insecticides, are essential in reducing transmission. However, few local studies have comprehensively analyzed the effectiveness of these interventions. Objective: To determine the relationship between malaria prevention measures (bed net use, repellent use, and mosquito insecticide use) and malaria incidence in the working area of UPT Lahomi Public Health Center, West Nias Regency. Methods: This study employed a case-control design with a quantitative analytic approach. A total of 174 respondents were included, divided into case and control groups. Data were collected through questionnaires and Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) results, and analyzed using the Chi-square test and Odds Ratio calculations. Results: No significant relationship was found between malaria incidence and the use of bed nets (p=0.785) or repellents (p=1.000). However, the use of mosquito insecticides showed a statistically significant association with reduced malaria incidence (p=0.021), with a lower infection rate among users (25%) compared to non-users (42.7%). Conclusion: Among the three interventions studied, only the use of mosquito insecticides proved effective in reducing malaria risk in the working area of UPT Lahomi Public Health Center. Education and improved access to proven preventive methods are needed to curb malaria transmission in endemic regions.