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The ability to anticipate the useful lifetime of an insecticide-treated mosquito net (ITN) would provide a proactive approach for planning net distribution programs. Therefore, we used an exponential decay model of deltamethrin depletion to predict the effective insecticidal lifetime of PermaNet® 2.0 nets used in the Lao PDR. Residual deltamethrin was measured using two nondestructive analytical field methods; X-ray fluorescence (total levels) and a colorimetric field test (surface levels) at 12 and 24 months postdistribution. The model assumes that the 12-month depletion rate can be used to predict future levels. The median total and surface deltamethrin levels for the Lao nets at 12 months were 31.2 and 0.0743 mg/m2, respectively. By defining a failed net as having total deltamethrin levels of less than 15 mg/m2 or a surface level less than 0.0028 mg/m2, it was predicted that 50% of the group of nets will fail at about 27 months after distribution. Insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) are recognized as important tools for reducing malaria transmission in malaria-endemic regions.1-3 The effectiveness of ITNs at reducing malaria transmission relies on their ability to act as chemical as well as physical barriers. Over time, the accumulation of holes, rips, and tears as well as depletion of insecticide potency, reduces the efficacy of ITNs. Although the accumulation of holes results in decreased personal protection, the presence of remaining insecticide still has the potential to reduce malaria.4 It has been suggested by mathematical models that 94% of transmission can be prevented if 80% of the population continues to use these nets.4 Thus, monitoring insecticide levels along with physical integrity are important in recognizing when an ITN is no longer effective. Although damage to the nets can be visually ascertained, monitoring insecticidal potency is often assessed by using mosquito bioassays or chemical techniques. Mosquito bioassays, such as the WHO Cone Test, are the "Gold Standard" for assessing ITNs. Although mosquito bioassays are important elements in evaluating net efficacy, it is difficult to compare net performance across geographical regions where mosquito behavior and insecticide resistance are quite variable. Therefore, this report focuses on measuring surface and total residual insecticide levels by chemical means as a practical way to monitor and predict net longevity. The chemical techniques used to measure insecticide levels usually result in the partial destruction of an ITN. Spectroscopic methods such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF)5,6 and surface level measurements such as the colorimetric field test for cyanopyrethroids (CFT)7 provide alternative insecticide analysis techniques that are nondestructive to the net, thus allowing the same net to be monitored for insecticide levels over time. The XRF method measures the total (TL) amount of insecticide per area and the CFT measures available insecticide on the net surface (SL) via an abrasion technique using filter paper. Deltamethrin adhered to the filter paper is measured using a colorimetric cyanopyrethroid analysis method.7 The deltamethrin molecule contains both cyano and bromine groups, thus allowing it to be detected by the CFT and XRF, respectively.5,7 In this report, we describe the use of both XRF and CFT methods were on the same net after 12 and 24 months of use. The objectives of this report are to apply an exponential decay model for predicting the effective longevity of ITNs based on TL and SL deltamethrin measured after 12 months of use. The model is based on an assumption that by 12 months, factors contributing to insecticidal loss, such as washing and storage habits have become routinely established, thereby resulting in a depletion rate constant, from which future levels can be predicted.

Located in the southwest of Benin, the study environment consists of Lake Ahémé, the Ahô channel, the Tihimey channel, the coastal lagoons of Grand-Popo and Ouidah. The mouth of Avlo-plage makes the area an Estuarine Lagoon environment rich in ichthyofaunal biodiversity where fishing, the main activity of the populations, is practiced with various gears and techniques which are inventoried and described in this study. The methodological approach adopted revolves around documentary research, field surveys through questionnaires and interviews and direct observations. The people interviewed are made up of fishermen; fish wholesalers; agents specializing in fishery production. The study environment was subdivided into 19 observation stations and the data were collected from January 2018 to December 2019. The gears were illustrated by photos and described according to the results of the documentary research and information received from the fishermen. Their variations according to the bodies of water and the stations were calculated using the Excel 2017 table. The drawn meshes of the nets were measured to the nearest millimeter. The study shows that the inventoried fishing gears and techniques include nets, lines, pots, Acadjas and trap dams (Xhas), categorized into 12 gears and 02 techniques, of which 86% are constant and 14% are accessories. Gbagbaloulou conical nets dominate the gear while the landing net is the least represented. The smallest mesh measured is 2mm, while the largest mesh is 25mm. The fishing gear and techniques used do not ensure rational and sustainable management of fishery resources. Faced with the damage they are causing, the Government proceeded to their systematic removal. Snail farming was initiated to diversify the activities of fishermen.

Given the substantial contribution tribal population makes to the overall malaria load in the country, their role is important in the malaria elimination context. Assimilation of correct malaria preventive and care seeking behaviour among them, thereby, becomes very critical. Community level knowledge and practices regarding malaria can reflect on the extent of this assimilation. A cross-sectional survey of 482 randomly selected households was conducted in Umaria and Dindori districts of Madhya Pradesh using a semi-structured schedule to assess the community level knowledge and practices with respect to the causation, transmission, prevention and treatment of malaria. Descriptive statistics are used to determine relative frequencies and percentages. Chi-square test is used to determine the associations between the variables. Majority of the respondents (71.2%) were aware of the role of mosquitoes in the transmission of malaria. However, only 30% of the respondents reported the most characteristics symptoms of malaria, i.e., “fever with chills”. The awareness about transmission and symptoms was associated with educational status of the respondents as well as history of malaria infection. 65% of the households were using mosquito net bed and 57% burnt foliage/cow dung cakes to protect themselves from mosquitoes. Out of all the malarial cases, 61% sought treatment from government health facilities, while remaining from private facilities. Findings indicate that tribal groups generally possessed knowledge about malaria and engage in desirable behaviours for its management and control pointing towards their acceptance and assimilation of the government programme. How to cite this article:Tripathi V, Preetha GS. Knowledge and Practices about Malaria in Two Tribal Dominated Regionsof Madhya Pradesh, India. J Commun Dis. 2021;53(3):112-117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202146

BACKGROUND Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common operations performed worldwide with most of the burden of these occurring in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs). There has been much research investigating the most effective method of hernia repair in resource-rich countries, however very little has been done to determine the most cost-beneficial method of hernia repair in LMICs. METHODS A systematic review of the English literature through PubMed and Scopus was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. RESULTS Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria of which 17 were randomised controlled trials and 11 were systematic reviews. Three areas of investigation were established from the literature search, namely operative method and type of mesh used (where applicable). Open-mesh procedures were shown to be less costly and have shorter operative times than laparoscopic methods. People who underwent laparoscopic hernia repair regularly returned to normal activities earlier than those who had open-mesh procedures. However, there was no other difference in complication rates between these two methods. Recent investigations have revealed that sterilised synthetic mosquito net was similar to hernia-specific meshes whilst significantly reducing cost. CONCLUSION We postulate that the most cost-beneficial method of hernia repair for implementation in LMICs is using open-mesh procedures with sterilised mosquito net under local anaesthetic. Further cost-benefit research is required in this area.

Background Health system financing presents a challenge in many developing countries. We assessed two reform packages, performance-based financing (PBF) and direct facility financing (DFF), against each other and business-as-usual for maternal and child healthcare (MCH) provision in Nigeria. Methods We sampled 571 facilities (269 in PBF; 302 in DFF) in 52 districts randomly assigned to PBF or DFF, and 215 facilities in 25 observable-matched control districts. PBF facilities received $2 ($1 for operating grants plus $1 for bonuses) for every $1 received by DFF facilities (operating grants alone). Both received autonomy, supervision, and enhanced community engagement, isolating the impact of additional performance-linked facility and health worker payments. Facilities and households with recent pregnancies in facility catchments were surveyed at baseline (2014) and endline (2017). Outcomes were Penta3 immunization, institutional deliveries, modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR), four-plus antenatal care (ANC) visits, insecticide-treated mosquito net (ITN) use by under-fives, and directly observed quality of care (QOC). We estimated difference-in-differences with state fixed effects and clustered standard errors. Results PBF increased institutional deliveries by 10% points over DFF and 7% over business-as-usual (ppppppp Conclusions Our findings show that both PBF and DFF represent significant improvements over business-as-usual for service provision and quality of care. However, except for institutional delivery, PBF and DFF do not differ from each other despite PBF disbursing $2 for every dollar disbursed by DFF. These findings highlight the importance of direct facility financing and decentralization in improving PHC and suggest potential complementarities between the two approaches in strengthening MCH service delivery. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03890653; May 8, 2017. Retrospectively registered.

Background: Malaria is an infectious disease that is still a world public health problem, especially in developing countries with tropical climates, including Indonesia. Ondorea Village in Nangapanda Subdistrict, Ende Regency, is one of the villages in East Nusa Tenggara, which is a province with APIs above the national average. Objective: To determine family behavior in using mosquito nets as an effort to prevent malaria in Ondorea Village, Nangapanda District. Method: This research is a survey research type with descriptive research design, the design used is"cross sectional".The population were all families residing in Ondorea Village, totaling 178 families, the sample in this study used a total sample. The variable in this study was a single variable, namely family behavior in the use of mosquito nets. The data used in this study are primary data collected by making home visits. Results: Public knowledge about the use of mosquito nets as an effort to prevent malaria in Ondorea Village, Nangapanda District was in the sufficient category, namely 85.39%, those with good knowledge of 6.34% and those with moderate knowledge of 7.87%. The public attitude about the use of mosquito nets is in the good category, namely 99.4%, which has a sufficient attitude of 0.56%. Conclusion: There is no relationship between the level of knowledge and the behavior of using mosquito nets, but it is found that there is a relationship between family attitudes and the behavior of using mosquito nets as an effort to prevent malaria

Strengthening vector control measures among mobile and migrant populations (MMPs) is crucial to malaria elimination, particularly in areas with multidrug-resistant malaria. Although a global priority, providing access and ensuring high coverage of available tools such as long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) among these vulnerable groups remains a significant challenge. We assessed mosquito net ownership, utilization, and preference among individuals who slept in a forest and/or on a farm against those residing only in village “home” settings in a priority malaria elimination area of Vietnam. Proportions of respondents owning bed nets were similar among forest, farm, and home sleeping sites, ranging between 96% and 98%. The proportion of respondents owning hammock nets was higher for the forest group (92%), whereas ownership of hammocks in general was significantly lower for the home group (55%). Most respondents (97%) preferred to bring hammock nets to their remote sleeping site, whereas a smaller proportion (25%) also considered bed nets as an option. Respondent preferences included thick hammock nets with zippers (53%), hammocks with a flip cover (17%), and thin hammock nets with zippers (15%), with none choosing polyethylene (hard) LLINs. Although there is high coverage and access to nets for this high-priority MMP group, there was a noted gap between coverage and net use, potentially undermining the effectiveness of net-related interventions that could impact malaria prevention and elimination efforts in Vietnam. The design and material of nets are important factors for user preferences that appear to drive net use.

Malaria incidence is generally lower in cities than rural areas. However, reported urban malaria incidence may not accurately reflect the level of ongoing transmission, which has potentially large implications for prevention efforts. To guide mosquito net distribution, we assessed the extent of malaria transmission in Conakry, Guinea, in 2018. We found evidence of active malaria transmission.

Malaria is one of the global health problems that is faced by many countries, including Indonesia. This study aimed to examine the association between demographic and attitude factors with malaria prevention in the rural areas of Purworejo District, Indonesia. A community survey was conducted in Purworejo District that involved 147 respondents by using simple random sampling to select the respondents. A questionnaire interview was used to collect data about demographic factors, attitudes, and malaria prevention practices. A Chi-square test was performed to examine the association between demographic and attitude factors with the practice of malaria prevention in the community. Among 147 respondents, 80 (54.4%) respondents conducted malaria prevention practice using bed mosquito net in their own houses. Demographic factors such as education level (p

There are a few investigations on malaria in pregnancy; however, examinations zeroing in on the discernment and current acts of malaria counteraction and treatment among pregnant women are scanty. This examination was pointed toward evaluating the information, recognitions about malaria anticipation with accentuation on information about placental malaria too consistence to utilization of LLIN and IPTP among pregnant women in Owerri, South Eastern Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at an emergency department, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri using a pretested questionnaire from 200 randomly selected consenting pregnant women. Acknowledgment of malaria manifestations during pregnancy, information about IPTP and placenta malaria were things used to survey the degree of information about malaria in pregnancy. Their blood tests were additionally diagnosed for malaria parasitaemia. Malaria prevalence in the examination populace by microscopy was 13.5%. Additionally 62% of the respondents were learned about the conceivable impeding impacts of the existences of malaria during pregnancy. About 79.5% of the respondent decidedly related mosquitoes to malaria contamination while 31% and 14% related reason for malaria disease to messy encompassing and stale water individually. Malaria Prevention Mentality and Practice in this examination was acceptable (60%) while 18.5% had reasonable practice. All the more so and 15.5% of the respondents had been associated with helpless practice. About 34% of the pregnant ladies rested under a mosquito net frequently study watched factual criticalness between age, occupation and malaria counteraction rehearses (p = 0.014, 0.0089). There was likewise measurably huge relationship between respondent’s training and respondent mentality (p = 0.0034). Information with respect to the utilization of Sulphodaxine primethamine (SP) as medication of decision during pregnancy was restricted (12.0%) as utilization of chloroquine was positioned most elevated (48%). The study showed low peripheral malaria prevalence and furthermore exhibited that pregnant women’s knowledge, mentality and practice towards malaria avoidance was impressively all things considered. Be that as it may, there was helpless information about discontinuous preventive treatment of malaria (IPTP) or suggested antimalarial during pregnancy.

Improving the quality of agricultural products depends largely on production process. In the absence of data on farmers’ practices and the average quality of cashew nuts in Cote d’Ivoire, the present study aimed to provide a detailed description of the cashew nut production process. Thus, a survey was carried out in the zones of Mankono, Dabakala and Bondoukou among 386 cashew producers selected at random and interviewed using the face-to-face technique. The results revealed that intercropping was practiced in cashew cultivation (42% - 62% of the producers), modern cultivation technique (72% - 98% of the producers) but with rare use of selected seeds (8% - 20% of the producers), labour/ha during nut harvesting (2.6 - 12 workers/ha). Concerning the harvesting process, the time taken to pick the nuts varies from 1 to 14 days; the use of pesticides during harvesting (14% to 97% of the producers) and the absence of sorting of the nuts in 42% of the Mankono producers justify the probable conservation of defective and immature nuts in their production. For drying, the main dryers were the slatted table, the cemented surface and the tarpaulin, but other dryers were found such as the mosquito net, the propylene rice bag, the fertiliser bag and the black bag. Generally, the drying time of cashew nuts was very short: 2 days (43% - 77% of the producers interviewed) but surprisingly 1 day (7% - 27% of the producers interviewed). For Mankono, the use of chemicals was permanent during all stages of the cashew production process. Overall, the results suggest the need to assess the real impact of farmers’ practices on the quality of cashew nuts from Cote d’Ivoire.

Background Attempts have been made to link procurement of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) not only to the price but also the expected performance of the product. However, to date it has not been possible to identify a specific textile characteristic that predicts physical durability in the field. The recently developed resistance to damage (RD) score could provide such a metric. This study uses pooled data from durability monitoring to explore the usefulness of the RD methodology. Methods Data from standardized, 3-year, prospective LLIN durability monitoring for six LLIN brands in 10 locations and four countries involving 4672 campaign LLIN were linked to the RD scores of the respective LLIN brands. The RD score is a single quantitative metric based on a suite of standardized textile tests which in turn build on the mechanisms of damage to a mosquito net. Potential RD values range from 0 to 100 where 100 represents optimal resistance to expected day-to-day stress during reasonable net use. Survival analysis was set so that risk of failure only started when nets were first hung. Cox regression was applied to explore RD effects on physical survival adjusting for known net use environment variables. Results In a bivariate analysis RD scores showed a linear relationship with physical integrity suggesting that the proportion of LLIN with moderate damage decreased by 3%-points for each 10-point increase of the RD score (p = 0.02, R2 = 0.65). Full adjustment for net care and handling behaviours as well as other relevant determinants and the country of study showed that increasing RD score by 10 points resulted in a 36% reduction of risk of failure to survive in serviceable condition (p Conclusions This study provides proof of principle that the RD metric can predict physical durability of LLIN products in the field and could be used to assess new products and guide manufacturers in creating improved products. However, additional validation from other field data, particularly for next generation LLIN, will be required before the RD score can be included in procurement decisions for LLINs.

Background Dengue virus (DENV) is spreading to parts of the world where it had not been previously reported. Increased international travel has led to intercontinental importation of dengue by visitors returning from countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Although dengue is well documented in the rain forest region of Nigeria, there is a dearth of information in the Guinea Savannah region, which is a major transit point for local and international visitors in the most populous nation in Africa. We provide preliminary evidence of dengue activity in the Guinea Savannah and highlight the risk factors. Methods Blood was collected from a cross-section of 200 patients attending four hospitals in Anyigba, Kogi State. Anti-dengue antibody was identified using DENV immunoglobulin G (IgG) immunoassays. Questionnaires were used to obtain sociodemographic variables and risk factors. Data were analysed with SPSS version 16.0 for Windows. Results Forty-two (20.5%) participants had anti-DENV IgG antibodies. Persons within the 45–59 y age group were more seropositive, with a rate of 35%. Males were more seropositive compared with females. Marriage, formal education, involvement in business activities and the presence of grasses around homes were associated with higher IgG seropositivity. The presence of open water containers around human dwellings and a lack of mosquito net use are predisposing factors. Conclusions This study identified past exposure to DENV among people in Anyigba, located in the Guinea Savannah region. Proper diagnosis of febrile episodes is required to improve case management and curtail off-target treatment. The high rate of previous exposure of patients to dengue indicates the need to strengthen vector control and dengue surveillance programs.

Background: Long lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLINs) are currently one of the most viable options to prevent malaria transmission in Africa. In Ghana, the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) has embarked on a universal coverage strategy to ensure that all members of the population sleep under an LLIN regardless of age or sex. Objective:This study assessed the NMCP’s LLINs distribution and hanging campaign in Kpone–on–Sea Township. It sought to establish the coverage of LLINs in the community and its usage by children< 5 yr. old and in pregnant women. Methods: The cross-sectional study involved 400 households with heads of the households or their representatives as respondents. Data was collected through questionnaire interviews and observational checklists. Frequency tables were used to indicate proportions and Chi Square test for associations. Results: Of the 400 households (represented by a head of the household or an adult representative), 93.30% owned any type of mosquito net and 83.75% owned LLINs and 74.92% used it. Households with children less than 5 yr.old accounted for 69.25% regarding ownership and 69.40% regarding usage. LLINs possession by pregnant women was 84.80% whiles usage was 72.30%. The study also indicated that 73.70% of respondents had good knowledge of malaria, 21.30% had very good knowledge and 5.01% had low knowledge. Furthermore, 89.50% of the respondents had knowledge of LLINs. Conclusion: The general coverage of LLINs in the community was 83.75% and usage was 74.92% 7 mosafter a free distribution and hanging campaign. This provides a useful assessment of NMCP’s LLINs campaign in this community and suggests ways for improvement.

Commercially available polypropylene mesh is preferred in the developed countries during inguinal hernioplasty. Whereas, the mosquito net mesh is a safe and effective alternative in the developing countries such as India. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of mosquito net mesh as prosthesis in comparison with polypropylene mesh in inguinal hernia repair by Lichtenstein tension-free technique. A total of 60 patients presented with uncomplicated inguinal hernia were randomized into two groups: group A (mosquito net mesh) and group B (polypropylene mesh). Postoperatively, the Southampton scoring system was employed to assess the level of infection at the surgical site on days 3, 5, 7, and 10. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 20.0. The data were compared using Fisher’s exact test, chi-square test, and independent sample t test. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All the patients were men and majority were in the age-group of 51–60 years. Right-sided inguinal hernia was reported in most (30) of the patients. The rate of surgical site infection on postoperative day 3 (P = 1.000), 5 (P = 0.704), 7 (P = 0.612), and 10 (P = 1.000) were comparable in both groups A and B. The baseline characteristics, clinical presentations, and assessment of surgical site infection in both groups were comparable. Therefore, mosquito net mesh, as prosthesis for inguinal hernia repair, is equally safe and efficacious as polypropylene mesh.

Education intervention effectiveness to improve bed net care and repair knowledge or practices is unclear. To assess intervention effectiveness, we systematically reviewed eight peer-reviewed literature databases and 16 malaria organizations (PROSPERO protocol CRD42019123932) using pre-specified combinations of ‘education intervention’, ‘mosquito net’, and ‘malaria’ search terms. Data were abstracted for 29 of 43 studies meeting inclusion criteria, of which 16 studies included education as amain focus. Of these 16, there was evidence of intervention effectiveness among half of the studies, which reported improvements in knowledge or practices, while four had mixed results, and four had unclear results. Overall there is no clear conclusion regarding the effectiveness of education interventions to improve net care and repair, though some instructional methods suggest more success than others. Interventions used combinations of instructional methods; passive mass education (6), active mass education (12), and interpersonal methods (8). Interventions combining mass and interpersonal methods resulted in positive improvements (four positive, one mixed). We found no evidence that interventions grounded in health behavior theory achieved more positive results than those not grounded in theory, potentially because net care education was typically asecondary objective. Of 289 gray literature results, 286 (99%) were net distribution reports from Against Malaria Foundation describing 136 distributions; eighty of which (58.8%) mentioned no education related to net care and repair. We found lack of involvement of experts in education among included interventions. Involving trained instructors with expertise in education theory and instructional strategies may improve instruction quality to yield more effective interventions.

Introduction: Malaria control becomes effective if countries adopt the World Health Organization & Global Malaria Programme (WHO/GMP) recommendation with includes diagnosis of malaria cases and treatment with effective medicines, distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). Ownership and utilization of mosquito nets for malaria prevention is still sub-optimal with only 62% ownership of at least one mosquito net and only 37% of children using the nets. This seeks to investigate the willingness to buy and the use ITN use among caregivers of under five children attending immunization clinic in Bingham University Teaching Hospital. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study design carried out among 242 caregivers of all ages and sex of under-five children attending immunization clinic at Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH) in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. A Simple Random Sampling technique was used to select respondents. Findings: Two hundred and sixteen 216 (89.3%) of the children use ITNs, majority of the children 190 (78.5%) slept under ITN the night before the interview, 226 (93.4%) owned ITNs, 156 (64.5%) got the ITNs for free while 60 (24.8%) paid for it and majority 172 (71.1%) of the children use ITN every night. Tertiary education, having much younger children (less than 3 years) and perception as a means of malaria prevention were associated with higher use of ITNs. Majority 220 (90.9%) the caregivers were willing to buy ITN and also recommend ITN to others. Caregivers who were traders and civil servants were willing to buy ITN than farmers, tertiary education, having children 1 - 3 months old, and owning 3 or more ITNs was associated with willingness to buy ITNs. Conclusion: About 90% of the children of caregivers use ITNs and over three quarters slept under ITN the night before the interview and majority use it every night. Majority the caregivers were willing to buy ITN and also recommend ITN to others. The government and health care workers should continue to encourage and enlighten caregivers to keep using ITNs for their children and sustain mass free distribution of ITNs to improve ownership and utilization of ITNs.

Malaria is hyper-endemic in Somalia and remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, especially vulnerable groups such as old people, pregnant women, and children under five years. The prevalence of the disease is the highest along the rivers, settlements in southern Somalia, with artificial water reservoirs, where there is a year-round transmission. About 80% of malaria cases in Somalia occur in the Shebelle and Juba river basins. Outside of the malaria-endemic areas, it is estimated that 87% of Somalia is at risk of being exposed to malaria epidemics. According to a recent KAP (knowledge, attitude, and practices) survey, less than 10% of the households have Insecticide-treated mosquito net. This cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the factors affecting utilization of Insecticide-treated net among households with children under 5 years in Hodan district. The study was all adult households (more than 18 yrs.) with five years. A total of 50 respondents were interviewed during the period of data collection. A structured questionnaire dealing with socio-demographic characteristics, household’s knowledge about the Insecticide-treated net and availability and ownership and uses of Insecticide-treated net were used as data collection instrument. Results were presented in frequency tables and graphics. The majority of respondents indicated that 30 out of 50 (60%) have Insecticide-treated mosquito net while 20 out of 50 (40%) do not have it. The main reason for those who do not have Insecticide-treated mosquito net they did not able to afford it. Knowledge about malaria and Insecticide-treated mosquito net importance, the majority of respondents (92%) believe that there is a great benefit to use Insecticide-treated mosquito net for a reason to protect them mosquito bites. 20 (40%) were primary education and they didn’t know the causes of malaria (38 out of 50, 76%). The households of the Hodan district need special attention to the utilization of Insecticide-treated mosquito net. Free provision of Insecticide-treated net awareness creation on the utilization of Insecticide-treated mosquito nets and participated in an income generates supremely important activities. This study demonstrated a wide gap between knowledge, Insecticide-treated mosquito net ownership, and Utilization among the household with children less than 5 years. Therefore, the suggested recommendations arising from this study are for effective case management and control efforts of malaria. One of the strongest weapons in the fight against malaria is the use of insecticide-treated mosquito net while sleeping.

Context: Recent publications on WHO recommended methods for estimating the survival of LLINs are good guidelines for assessing the performance of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). Thus, this field trial study was undertaken to evaluate the durability of the Yorkool® LN mosquito net distributed during the 2017 campaign in Benin. Methods: The monitoring of Yorkool® LN nets was carried out in two districts (Djougou III and Barienou) in Djougou, department of Donga, northern Benin from October 2017 to March 2019. A representative sample of 250 households that had received the Yorkool® LN polyester LLINs during the 2017 campaign was selected in the rural and urban areas of each district and monitored for 6, 12 and 18 months. An evaluation of the survival of Yorkool® LN nets was conducted based on the rate of loss and physical condition of the surviving nets as measured by the proportional hole index (pHI). Finally, the chemical efficacy of these LLINs during each period was determined using the WHO cone tests. Results: Survival of Yorkool® LN nets was similar in both rural and urban areas, although there was a difference in survival between the 6-month (95.3%), 12-month (89.7%), and 18-month follow-up periods (74.4%). A difference in survival was also observed between the NetCalc model (84%) compared to the Yorkool® LN nets of this study (74.4%). The attrition rate was 29.6% for LLINs at 18 months. Surprisingly, the physical integrity of the LLINs was minimally affected in the municipality. Indeed, the proportion of mosquito nets in good condition without a hole was 51.8% compared to 56.8% with a hole after 18 months. Only 7.8% of the LLINs in the two districts were damaged compared to 2.6% which needed to be replaced. The washing frequency, location of the LLINs and the frequency of use are some factors contributing to the appearance of the holes in LLINs. The bio-efficacy results of LLINs based on the cone test were good with mortality rates of 74%, 66%, 72% and 58% respectively after baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months of use. Conclusions: The observed differences in the survival of Yorkool® LN nets are due to community living conditions and movements and not to the equipment used to manufacture LLINs. However, the estimated median survival has shown that Yorkool® LN nets would have an average lifespan of 2 years 8 months despite their fairly good physical condition. These results may be useful to the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) during the period of replacement of these nets on the field.

Located in the southwest of Benin, the study environment consists of Lake Ah��m��, the Ah�� channel, the Tihimey channel, the coastal lagoons of Grand-Popo and Ouidah. The mouth of Avlo-plage makes the area an Estuarine Lagoon environment rich in ichthyofaunal biodiversity where fishing, the main activity of the populations, is practiced with various gears and techniques which are inventoried and described in this study. The methodological approach adopted revolves around documentary research, field surveys through questionnaires and interviews and direct observations. The people interviewed are made up of fishermen; fish wholesalers; agents specializing in fishery production. The study environment was subdivided into 19 observation stations and the data were collected from January 2018 to December 2019. The gears were illustrated by photos and described according to the results of the documentary research and information received from the fishermen. Their variations according to the bodies of water and the stations were calculated using the Excel 2017 table. The drawn meshes of the nets were measured to the nearest millimeter. The study shows that the inventoried fishing gears and techniques include nets, lines, pots, Acadjas and trap dams (Xhas), categorized into 12 gears and 02 techniques, of which 86% are constant and 14% are accessories. Gbagbaloulou conical nets dominate the gear while the landing net is the least represented. The smallest mesh measured is 2mm, while the largest mesh is 25mm. The fishing gear and techniques used do not ensure rational and sustainable management of fishery resources. Faced with the damage they are causing, the Government proceeded to their systematic removal. Snail farming was initiated to diversify the activities of fishermen.

Morbidities and mortalities caused by malaria are still a serious issue in Nigeria, with the country accounting for 25% of malaria morbidities and 24% of malaria mortalities globally in 2018. Treated bed nets reduce the incidence of malaria, but not all Nigerians use them. This study aimed to examine the factors associated with treated bed net usage, including perceived severity of malaria, and the rural–urban differences in the relationship between socio-demographic factors and use of treated bed nets in Nigeria. The analytic sample size comprised 40,693 women aged 15–49 years. Poisson regression and bivariable and multivariable analyses were used to test the study hypothesis that women who agreed that malaria could potentially lead to death would be more likely to adopt malaria preventive measures, including treated bed net use. About 48% of the women slept under a treated mosquito net the night before the survey. Those who perceived that malaria could lead to death had a higher likelihood of using a treated bed net in the urban, rural and combined samples. However, in the multivariable model, the association between perceived malaria severity and use of a treated bed net was only significant for rural women (APR=0.964, 95% CI: 0.933, 0.996). The results unexpectedly suggest that rural Nigerian women who perceive malaria to be severe have a lower likelihood of using treated bed nets. Also, rural–urban variations in the relationship between the socio-demographic variables and use of treated bed nets were observed. Policies should consider the observed rural–urban dichotomy in the influence of perceived severity of malaria and other socio-demographic factors on women’s use of treated bed nets in Nigeria.

Malaria is a serious global health issue, with around 200 million cases per year. As such, great effort has been put into the mass distribution of bed nets as a means of prophylaxis within Africa. Distributed mosquito nets are intended to be used for malaria protection, yet increasing evidence suggests that fishing is a primary use for these nets, providing fresh concerns for already stressed coastal ecosystems. While research documents the scale of mosquito net fisheries globally, no quantitative analysis of their landings exists. The effects of these fisheries on the wider ecosystem assemblages have not previously been examined. In this study, we present the first detailed analysis of the sustainability of these fisheries by examining the diversity, age class, trophic structure and magnitude of biomass removal. Dragnet landings, one of two gear types in which mosquito nets can be utilised, were recorded across ten sites in northern Mozambique where the use of Mosquito nets for fishing is common. Our results indicate a substantial removal of juveniles from coastal seagrass meadows, many of which are commercially important in the region or play important ecological roles. We conclude that the use of mosquito nets for fishing may contribute to food insecurity, greater poverty and the loss of ecosystem functioning.