Hybrid Mosquitoes? Evidence From Rural Tanzania on How Local Communities May Conceptualize and Respond to Modified Mosquitoes as a Tool for Malaria Control

BackgroundDifferent forms of mosquito modification are being considered as potential high-impact and low-cost approaches to future malaria control in Africa. Though still under evaluation, the eventual success of these technologies will require high-level public acceptance. Understanding the prevailing community perceptions is therefore crucial for effective public engagement during implementation. This study investigated community perceptions regarding genetically-modified mosquitoes (GMMs) and their potential for malaria control, in Tanzanian villages where no research or campaigns about such technologies have previously been undertaken. MethodsA mixed-methods design was used, involving: i) structured questionnaires administered to 490 community members to assess awareness, perceptions and support for GMMs, and ii) focus group discussions (FGD) with community leaders to explore in greater depth how these communities frame and would respond to GMMs. Thematic content analysis was used to identify key concepts and interpret the findings. ResultsNearly all survey respondents were unaware of mosquito modification technologies for malaria control (94.3%), and reported no knowledge of their specific characteristics (97.3%). However, community leaders participating in FGDs offered a set of distinctive interpretive frames to conceptualize interventions relying on GMMs for malaria control. The participants commonly referenced their experiences of cross-breeding for selecting preferred traits in domestic plants and animals. Preferred GMMs attributes included expected reductions in insecticide use and human labour. Population suppression approaches, requiring as few releases as possible, were favored. Common concerns included whether the GMMs would look or behave differently than wild mosquitoes, and how the technology would be integrated into current malaria control policies. The participants emphasised the importance, and the challenges, of educating and engaging communities during technology development. ConclusionUnderstanding how communities perceive and interpret new technologies is crucial in designing effective implementation strategies that enjoy durable public support. This study offers vital clues on how communities with no prior experience of modified mosquitoes might conceptualize or respond to such technologies when deployed in the context of malaria control programs. The existing interpretive frames and the real-life analogies, such as cross-breeding, may provide a basis for effective community engagement to aid the potential deployment of such technologies in the future.