The use of personal protection measures against malaria in an urban population

Abstract

Malaria continues to be an important vector-borne disease in India. About two million cases of malaria are reported annually. The Expert Committee on Malaria constituted by the Government of India in December 1994 identified 15 major cities including four major metropolitan cities in India where the malaria situation is serious. In the metropolitan city of Chennai (formerly known as Madras) widespread prevalence and outbreaks of malaria have been reported over the last two decades. Community participation in mosquito control is of paramount importance to control malaria. Personal protection is a simple low-cost measure that can reduce the risk of malaria. A variety of mosquito repellent preparations and electrical devices containing synthetic pyrethroids are marketed in India. The annual expenditure on various mosquito repellents—coils mats lotions and vaporizers—in India is US$12–15 million. With such widespread usage of personal protective measures the present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that not using personal protective measures against mosquito bites is associated with increased risk of malaria. Risk factors such as not closing doors in the evening/night not using netting in windows stagnant water near the house construction activity near the house and having a person in the family with malaria were also tested for the risk of malaria. The main aim of this case-control study was to measure the protective efficacy of various personal protection measures against malaria and to describe the profile of the protective measures practiced by an urban population. (excerpt)