Maximizing the use and performance of bed nets using community-owned and driven practices
Background
Primarily due to the use of bed nets, the prevalence of malaria in African and other endemic countries has been reduced significantly over the last fifteen years. However, in order to maintain these health gains and advance towards elimination, we urgently need to maximize the performance of the frontline control measures and develop complementary ones that can target mosquitoes that have become resistant to insecticides. Both approaches are desirable, but the former permits an immediate option since the distribution of millions of bednets is a continuing global effort. In spite of the massive progress made, we strongly argue that bed nets have not been utilized to their full potential. For instance, in the more than 80% of Tanzanian households that own at least one-bed net, only 50% or less make use of them, and even fewer use them regularly and appropriately. People sleeping on floors and/or outdoors during hot weather or socio-cultural gatherings do not use bed nets because it is practically challenging to suspend them. Besides, considerable proportions of bednets are holed or torn within 1-2 years of use and lose their protection.
Research project
The aim of the study is to improve the health and well-being of malaria-endemic communities by maximizing the use and performance of bed nets.
As such, we propose to maximize use and performance of bednets by a suit of community-centered approaches: 1) school children as change agents in repairing and taking care of bed nets, 2) developing mobile phone applications for mass education on malaria, 3) designing portable hangers ‘besera’ for ensuring proper hanging of bed nets above beds and outdoors, 4) printing attractive pictures on bed nets to enhance uptake and strength of ownership (Illustrated in the figure), and 5) formulating by-laws to discourage misuse of bed nets. Quite often bednets are misused as fishing nets, bridal veils, washing lines, etc. Easy to use phone-applications will provide a quick source of information on the proper use/repair of bednets, and general malaria control. Correct responses to quizzes at the end of each lesson will be rewarded either by recharging phones or cash. This will attract people to access the applications. Printing bednets with attractive pictures (e.g. Christ, animals, cartoon figures, or famous football players) will improve uptake. Preliminary studies in Uganda by Twiga Ventures Ltd have demonstrated that (Knols pers. comm.). The company has the capacity to produce such nets which will enable us to evaluate and promote such bednets in our study communities and beyond.
Project Time: 2022-2024
Project Funding: The project is financed by a grant from the Sokoine University of Agriculture Research and Innovation Support.
Grant number: DPRTC/R/126/ PEST/2/2022
Team Members