Use Of Mosquito Nets Research Articles

Potential of zodia (Evodia suaveolens) as natural repellents for Culex sp

Background: Adult Culex sp mosquitoes as disease vector also cause discomfort around humans. Various efforts have been made to prevent the transmission of diseases carried by mosquitoes, including the use of mosquito nets and the use of chemical insecticides in the larval and adult stages. Objectives: This Reserach aim to investigates the potential of Zodia (Evodia suaveolens) as natural repellents. Materials and Methods: An experimental study was conducted to test the effectiveness of Zodia extract at concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 3% against Culex sp. mosquitoes. The tests were conducted under controlled conditions in the Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Binawan. The effectiveness was measured by the percentage of mosquitoes repelled after exposure. Results: The effectiveness of Zodia repellent increased with concentration, showing 76.4% effectiveness at 1%, 81.3% at 2%, and 91.05% at 3%. These results indicate a concentration-dependent increase in repellency, with the highest concentration approaching typical efficacy rates of synthetic repellents. Conclusions: The Zodia repellent (Evodia suaveolens) with a concentration of 1%, 2% and 3% has been demonstrated to be effective as a natural repellent against Culex sp. mosquitoes.

Activity-based contracting for optimization of the mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets in the Democratic Republic of Congo: pilot implementation in Kwilu province

BackgroundPromoting the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) is one of the main strategies for reducing malaria-related morbidity. An innovative activity-based contracting (ABC) approach has been implemented in Kwilu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo to optimize ITN mass distribution campaigns, with payments based on contractually defined programmatic outcomes for key campaign activities following independent verification of results.MethodsThis internal evaluation was carried out using a mixed methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative document and content analysis from a series of three workshops: validation workshops for campaign results at provincial level for the 2021 and 2022 campaigns; internal evaluation workshop for the Kwilu campaign as part of the ABC approach organized by “Santé pour tous en milieu rural” (SANRU) with its sub-contractors; and national campaign evaluation workshop organized by the National Malaria Control Program.ResultsThe pilot campaign with the ABC approach in Kwilu has demonstrated better results than campaigns conducted using the standard, non-ABC, approach: better household coverage (99.9% vs. 97.3%) and improved compliance with ITN allocation to households based on the household size (98. 9% vs. 84.7%); lower loss of ITNs (0.3% vs. 0.5%) with immediate penalties for lost ITNs in the province under the ABC approach; shorter campaign lead times (14 vs. 28 weeks from the start of training to the launch of distribution). This last point is crucial, as it is likely to generate efficiencies and contribute to ensuring timely ITN replacement campaigns.ConclusionThe challenges encountered and the lessons learned in the implementation of the pilot ABC approach in Kwilu could guide future distribution campaigns in the DRC and other African countries that would like to engage in distribution campaigns based on performance-based incentive contracts.

ERADICATING MALARIA AND SIMULATING THE CORRECT USE OF MOSQUITO NET FOR STUDENTS IN BIAK DORMITORY JAYAPURA CITY

Introduction: Malaria is a disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite. This disease is transmitted through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito which is infected with this parasite and attacks all humans. How to prevent it by avoiding or reducing malaria mosquito bites is not doing activities outside the house at night, sleeping under a mosquito net, smearing the body with anti-mosquito bite material. , installing screens on ventilation, cleaning mosquito breeding areas, clearing bushes or shady trees around the house or by doing 3M (burying, draining and covering). The aim of this service is to increase Malaria knowledge among students and train students on how to use mosquito nets correctly at the Biak Dormitory, Jayapura City. Methods: Malaria eradication action methods, namely lectures conducted by providing information about the correct use of mosquito nets and simulations, namely practicing how to use and care for mosquito nets correctly, the activity was carried out at the Biak Dormitory located in Padang Bulan, Jayapura City on November 29 2023. There were 13 participants involved in this activity who had the status of active students at several universities. high in Jayapura City. Results: The results of the action to eradicate Malaria with the correct use of mosquito nets before giving students knowledge material were still lacking at 38.4% or there were still 5 students. After receiving the material, student knowledge increased 100% or all students already had correct knowledge about Malaria. Conclusion: The real action carried out by students at the Biak Dormitory is an effort to eradicate Malaria at the right target, because students can disseminate information about malaria prevention locally and can help with the Malaria Elimination program by 2030.

Assessment of malaria transmission in Kenya using multilevel logistic regression

Background: Kenya has a lower malaria incidence in comparison to other African malaria-endemic nations. Malaria is a significant public health concern in the country. The malaria indicator survey (MIS) data were analyzed using the logistic regression model. Nonetheless, independent data may be the cause of most MIS's hierarchical structure. This approach does not consider any association between data points within a cluster, as it assumes that the individual malaria statuses are independent of their causes. The approach may lead to biased analysis conclusions. The primary goal of this research is to determine the impact of sample enumeration areas (SEAs) and SEA features on individual malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results. We are interested in identifying key factors influencing household members' malaria RDT findings or Kenya's malaria prevalence and assessing variation. Methods: Our study utilized the robust 2020 Kenya National Malaria Indicator Surveys (KMIS) dataset, which is representative of the entire nation. This dataset, comprising 301 clusters (134 urban and 167 rural areas), was instrumental in applying several multilevel models, including random sample and sample Enumeration Area (SEA) effects. We also considered the weights used in the s survey design, which is used to adjust uneven probabilities of choice within clusters, further enhancing the reliability and relevance of our findings. The methods used in this study involved a rigorous analysis of the KMIS dataset, including applying multilevel models and considering survey design weights to ensure the robustness and strength of our results. ResultsThis study's findings are significant and crucial in understanding the prevalence of malaria in Kenya. The findings reveal that factors such as region, place of residence, mosquito bed net use, water source location, wealth index, age, household size, and altitude are significantly associated with malaria's prevalence.After accounting for these variables, systematic changes across SEAs accounted for approximately 47.1% of the remaining variability in malaria occurrence in the study locations. In contrast, the remaining 52.9% was projected to be unmeasured differences between individuals or family units. These findings provide a detailed explanation of the various processes that influence malaria prevalence in Kenya. Conclusions: The study's multilevel logistic regression model, which includes random effects, identified two SEA-level and eight individual/household risk factors for malaria infection. Thus, increasing the availability of insecticide-treated bed nets is one crucial element that public health policymakers should consider. Furthermore, health planners can organize spatially targeted initiatives to prevent malaria transmission with the help of spatial clustering data.

Seropositivity of West Nile virus among acute febrile patients in Ilorin, Nigeria.

West Nile Virus (WNV), a member of Flaviviridae family, is one of the most widely distributed arboviruses in the world. In developing countries like Nigeria, fever resulting from the WNV infection is often presumptively ascribed to malaria or typhoid due to misdiagnosis and low-level awareness of the viral infection. This study determined the prevalence of WNV IgM and IgG antibodies among febrile patients in the Ilorin metropolis. A total of two hundred (200) blood samples were collected from consenting patients and each serum was screened for anti-WNV IgM and IgG antibodies using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical correlation and logistic regression analysis were conducted. Overall, 6% (12/200) anti-WNV IgM seropositivity rate was recorded amongst the acute febrile patients with higher prevalence (6.30%) in females than in males (5.45%). Anti-WNV IgG positivity rate of 52% (104/200) was recorded, with 50.67% positivity rate in males and 38.95% in female participants. The convalescence phase posited by the 5.4% (11/200) co-detection of anti-WNV IgG and IgM antibodies among the participants was recorded. A statistical correlation was noticed with the age and religion of respondents to WNV serological positivity while gender, occupation, use of mosquito nets and formal education had no positive correlation at p < 0.05. However, based on odd ratio at 95% CI and logistic regression coefficients, the evaluated risk factors such as blood transfusion, residency, malaria parasite, and proximity to stagnant water and bush were significant to anti-WNV IgG and IgM positivity. The findings of this study show the circulation of WNV in the study area. There is an urgent need for clinicians/physicians to include screening for the West Nile virus in cases of febrile patients before the commencement of treatment.

Risk Factors Affecting The Incident of Malaria in The Working Area of The Malaimsimsa Public Health Center Sorong City

Background: Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium sp, a single-celled living creature that belongs to the group of the genus Protozoa which is parasitic. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of environmental factors and behavioral factors on the incidence of malaria in the working area of the Malaimsimsa Community Health Center, Sorong City.Methods: This research is an observational study using a case-control study . The case group in this study included people with malaria as indicated by positive malaria blood test results. Examination of malaria is carried out by means of microscopic examination by making thick and thin blood preparations, stained using Giemsa stain, then identified using a microscope. The control group includes people who are not sick with negative blood test results.Result: The results of this study indicate that all malaria infections that occur are caused by infection with the type of Plasmodium vivax. The risk factors that influence the incidence of malaria are behavioral factors, namely the use of body armor and the use of insect repellent. While the risk factors that do not affect the incidence of malaria are the presence of puddles, temperature and use of mosquito nets.Conclusion : From the results of this study it can be concluded that the factors of stagnant water, temperature and use of mosquito nets are not related to the incidence of malaria, on the contrary the use of body armor and the use of insect repellent have a relationship with the incidence of malaria.

Effectiveness of Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets on the Death of Anopheles subpictus Mosquitoes

The prevalence of malaria in East Nusa Tenggara based on positive diagnosis results containing malaria parasites and symptoms in the 2013 - 2015 period decreased but has not yet reached the National Strategic Plan target, namely in 2013 it was 21 per 1,000 population (o/oo), in 2014 it was 14 o/oo, and in 2015 it became 8 o/oo (NTT Health Office, 2016). In 2017 there was a spike in malaria cases to 211,409 cases (API = 44.96 o/oo). Kupang Regency with 1,108 cases (API = 24.87 o/oo). Malaria cases in the Tarus Community Health Center work area are the eighth highest, namely 7 cases. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of insecticide-treated bed nets on the death of Anopheles subpictus mosquitoes. The variables observed were the length of time the mosquito net was used, the frequency of washing the mosquito net, the method of washing the mosquito net, and the percentage of Anopheles subpictus mosquito deaths. The effectiveness of insecticide-treated bed nets on the death of Anophles subpictus mosquitoes with usage time &lt; 3 years (100%), usage time 3 – 5 years (70%) and usage time &gt; 5 years (40%). The effectiveness of insecticide-treated bed nets that have never been washed reaches 100% mortality within 24 hours of observation. Meanwhile, mosquito nets with a washing frequency of 1 – 10 times (70%) kill mosquitoes, and a washing frequency of &gt; 10 times (50%). The method of washing mosquito nets carried out by the community in the Puskesmas Working Area is 100% using detergent. In the control group that used mosquito nets that did not contain insecticide, no Anopheles subpictus mosquito deaths occurred (0%). Suggestions for health workers to increase education regarding the correct use of mosquito nets, so that a higher level of effectiveness of mosquito nets is obtained as a means of personal protection in avoiding mosquito bites.

Manifestações clínicas e o manejo da infecção congênita pelo Zika Vírus: Uma revisão sistemática

Objective: The general objective of the present study is to analyze the scientific production on Congenital Zika Virus Infection, seeking to identify the main clinical manifestations, as well as the main methods used in the treatment of this pathology. Methodology: It is a systematic review focused on understanding the main aspects of Congenital Zika Virus Infection. The research was guided by the question: "What are the main signs and symptoms of congenital Zika virus infection in the pediatric population, as well as what are the therapeutic resources used in clinical practice?" . To find answers, searches were performed in the PubMed database using three descriptors combined with the Boolean term "AND". This resulted in 010 articles. 12 articles were selected for analysis. Results: Congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) emerges as a complex and multifaceted challenge whose implications go beyond the boundaries of public health. Babies exposed to the Zika virus during pregnancy face a range of clinical manifestations, from microcephaly to eye anomalies and neurological disorders. Prevention, therefore, takes on a crucial role: educating pregnant women about the risks and promoting protective measures, such as the use of repellents and mosquito nets, is imperative. Conclusion: Although we do not yet have a licensed Zika vaccine, research efforts continue to explore this possibility. In addition, long-term surveillance is essential to fully understand the effects of the virus. In this scenario, awareness, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to the well-being of future generations are our best allies in the fight against this potentially devastating syndrome.

Home-based care practices on prevention of malaria in children under 5 years: A narrative review.

Malaria is a major threat to lives in developing countries, especially in Africa. A lot of measures have been tried to curb the increased mortality and morbidity associated with malaria. A lot of resources have been channeled to control the devastating effects of malaria in these parts of the world. The aim of this paper is to discuss home-based care practices on prevention of malaria in children under 5 years. By cutting back on bushes and upholding good hygiene and sanitation, malaria in young children can be prevented in homes. This lessens disease and transmission while also assisting in death prevention and disease reduction. In Africa, Uganda is the third most affected country by malaria, which is a major cause of high morbidity and mortality in young children and pregnant women. This has forced the Government of Uganda and implementing partners, including the Global Fund and the Roll Back Malaria initiative, to redouble efforts to increase the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Effective use of insecticide-treated bed nets is necessary to eliminate the above serious sequelae in children under 5 years old. Households and especially caregivers apply the use of impregnated mosquito nets and cleaning of surrounding bushes. According to research results, the use of indoor residual spray nets and insecticide-impregnated nets has significantly contributed to the prevention of malaria in children.

Predictors of insecticide-treated bed nets use among pregnant women in Sierra Leone: evidence from the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey

BackgroundMalaria remains a significant public health threat in Sierra Leone, particularly for pregnant women and their unborn children. Infection during pregnancy can lead to severe consequences, including maternal anaemia, low birth weight, premature birth, and even death. Therefore, preventing malaria during pregnancy is crucial for improving maternal and child health outcomes. This study investigated the predictors of insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) use among pregnant women in Sierra Leone.MethodsThe study analysed the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey data (SLDHS). The study comprised a total of 900 pregnant women aged 15–49 years, representing the nationally representative sample. A multivariable binary regression analysis was used to explore the predictors of ITN use. The regression results were presented using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsThe study found that the prevalence of ITN use among pregnant women was 64.2 [60.4, 67.9] in Sierra Leone. Pregnant women who were married [aOR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.32, 3.07] had higher odds of bed net use than those who were unmarried. Pregnant women with five or more children [aOR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.01, 2.84] had higher odds of mosquito bed net use than those with four and below children. Pregnant women living in the Northern, Northwestern, Southern and Western regions all had lower odds of bed net use than those in the Eastern region, with the lowest odds among those living in the western region [aOR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.09, 0.40]. Pregnant women who were Muslims [aOR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.41, 0.95] had lower odds of mosquito bed net use than Christians. Pregnant women with female household heads [aOR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.44, 0.95] had lower odds of mosquito bed net use than those with male household heads.ConclusionITN use among pregnant women in Sierra Leone remains suboptimal. Marital status, parity, sex of household head, region and religion were associated with bed net use. The government and policymakers in Sierra Leone should integrate ITN education and distribution into prenatal care services, emphasizing the benefits for both mother and baby—partnering with healthcare providers to raise awareness and encourage consistent use. Involve local leaders, religious figures, and mothers' groups to promote the benefits of ITN during pregnancy. Educate husbands and partners on the importance of ITN use during pregnancy and encourage their support in its consistent use.

Meaning The Mythic Symbols Of Beliefs Of The Sea Island Communities Of South Kalimantan In Film Saranjana: Ghaib City Works Of Johansyah Jumberan

Myths are closely related to local culture in Indonesia. Saranjana City, known as the unseen city, is on Laut Island, South Kalimantan. This city is famous for its myths which are legendary for the people of the region. There are several myths depicted with symbols that can only be understood by the people of the South Kalimantan Sea Island region. The legend of the myth of the city of Saranjana made a film director create it in the form of a feature film in the horror genre. The aim of this research is to describe the meaning of the cultural myth symbols of the people of Laut Island, South Kalimantan in the film Saranjana: Kota Ghaib by Johansyah Jumberan using Roland Barthes' semiotic concept. This research uses qualitative research, with descriptive methods and a phenomenological interpretative approach. The data in this research are symbols in the form of narratives, dialogues, monologues, pictures, scenes from the film Saranjana: Kota Ghaib by Johansyah Jumberan which contains local cultural myths. The results of the research show that there are several myths such as the use of traditional clothes, yellow cloth, mandau and mosquito nets which show symbols believed by the people of Laut Island, South Kalimantan.

Epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in children of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

In Pakistan, cutaneous leishmaniasis is an emerging tropical disease and a very high number (>70%) of children are afflicted by this marring infection. This study aimed to scrutinise the prevalence, spatial distribution and socio-demographic and behavioural risk factors associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis in children aged <5-15 years in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total of 1, 559 clinically confirmed records of children diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis (January-December) from 2020 and 2022 were obtained from selected district hospitals. In addition, a risk factors-related questionnaire was administered to 1, 011 households (400 in 2020 and 611 in 2022) in nine districts during a household survey. The maximum number of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases was recorded in 2022 (n = 877, 56.25%) as compared to 2020 (n = 682, 43.75%). The hospital records showed a greater number of male patients in the 2022 cohort (n = 603, 68.76%). The highest number of cases were observed in children aged 5-9 years in 2022 (n = 282, 32.16%) and 2020 (n = 255, 37.39%). In 2020 and 2022, cutaneous leishmaniasis cases showed peak aggregation in March (n = 118, 17.3%) and January (n = 322, 36.72%). From a spatial analysis, the maximum number of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases was recorded at 59-1700 m elevation in various land-use/land-cover and climatic regions with quaternary alluvium rock formations. A multivariate logistic regression model analysis of risk factors from the households survey suggested that age group, socio-economic status, construction materials of the house, use of insect repellents, Afghan refugee camps in the village/district, knowledge and biting times of sand flies, frequent use of mosquito bed nets, presence of domestic animals in the house, knowledge of the transmission period and peak month of leishmaniasis infection increased the risk of acquiring cutaneous leishmaniasis (p value < 0.05). Our analysis demonstrated that cutaneous leishmaniasis in children is influenced by a variety of environmental, socio-demographic and behavioural risk factors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The increase in recorded cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in children in 2022 compared to 2020 suggests that the infection likely extended to new foci in the province.

Study of Malaria Vector Control Efforts in Balasuna Village, Kaledupa District Wakatobi District

The number of malaria cases in Southeast Sulawesi, especially Wakatobi Regency is still high. This study aims to determine the description of efforts to control the Malaria Vector in Balasuna Kaledupa District, Wakatobi Regency. This type of research is analytic research with a descriptive approach. The population in this study was 418 households with a total sample of 72 households. Analysis of the data used is univariate analysis. The results showed that malaria vector control efforts in Balasuna Village, Kaledupa Subdistrict, Wakatobi Regency, were less than 43 (59.7%) of the use of Wire Nets and 29 (40.3%) respondents were sufficient, the use of anti-mosquito drugs was 42 (58.3) %) people and less than 30 (41.7%) people, the use of mosquito nets is 41 (56.9%) people and less than 31 (43.1%) people, less abating than 44 (61.1%) people and enough 28 (38.9%) people, and making 3M efforts showed that there were enough 39 (54.2%) and 33 (45.8%) less people. Suggestions are to increase community empowerment in preventing and controlling vectors by arranging a clean environment and healthy living behavior

Exploring a Moderation Analysis in the Interactive Relationship between the Determinants of ITN use in Ghana. A Multi-Level Analysis Based on the DHS 2019 Malaria Indicator Survey

Background: Insecticide-treated mosquito net (ITN) use is considered a highly efficient vector-control strategy for reducing malaria transmission and while this tool is widely available in vast malaria-endemic areas, there is still a gap in determining its effective use given household access and ownership. Malaria analysis posits that although the availability of ITNs in a household is a prerequisite for use, it does not determine its effective use. Rather, the determinants of ITN use are a result of the complex interplay of factors at the various socioecological levels (i.e., the individual, household, community, and net levels). These complexities are context-specific and shape the behavioral choices of ITN users. This study explores the context-specific factors associated with ITN use and focuses on the interactive relationships among the individual determinants of ITN use. A conceptual approach is developed to test the interactive effect of ITNs in the household on the relationship between the number of children under five years and ITN use by household members in Ghana. Method: Survey data with a sample size of 10,997 were drawn from the Ghana 2019 Demographic and Health Survey and the 2020 Malaria Indicator Survey to analyse the interactive relationship among individual, household, community, and net level variables. The relationship between these variables was assessed in a multivariate setting via a linear regression model. A further analysis involved a moderation effect of the number of ITNs on the relationship between the number of children under five years and household members´ ITN use using a single moderation model. Results: From the data analyses, the number of children under five years was positively associated with household members' ITN use (OR = 0.29, p &lt; .001), and the number of ITNs was negatively associated with ITN use (OR = -06, p &lt; .05) and was positively associated with the number of children under five years (OR = .23, p &lt; .05). Gender was positively associated with ITN use and the number of children under five years and negatively associated with the number of ITNs. Increasing age was associated with decreased ITN use, number of children, and number of ITNs respectively. An increasing wealth index was associated with decreased ITN use, the number of children under five years, and the number of ITNs. The region was not significant with ITN use but associated with the number of children under five years. Place of residence was associated with ITN use, number of children under five years, and number of ITNs. A moderation effect of the number of ITNs (OR = -.05, p &lt; .001) on the relationship between the number of children under five years and household members' ITN use was reported. Conclusion: The number of children under five years influenced household members´ ITN use but this relationship was moderated by the number of ITNs in the household. The proportion of the number of children under five years was moderately different for a high and low household ITN availability whereby ITN use decreased with higher ITN ownership and increased with lower ownership. Future research should focus on more moderation analysis to better understand the complexity of interactions between individual, household, community, and net-level factors that determine ITN use. This might help to better understand and engage better-targeted action in increasing effective ITN use in households relevant to their needs.

Characteristics Linked to Severe Malaria in Under Five Years Old Children at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Hoima District

This research aimed to identify the factors associated with severe malaria in children below five years old at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital in Hoima District. The study employed a cross-sectional approach, gathering both qualitative and quantitative data via participant self-administered and investigator-administered questionnaires. A sample of 384 children, aged 6 months to 4 years, participated using convenience sampling. The findings, presented with 95% Confidence Intervals (C.I), Odds Ratios (OR), and P-values, were calculated using Binary Logistic Regression with Pearson’s correlation in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26. Visual representation utilized Microsoft Excel Software. The study had a response rate of 91.4%, encompassing 351 respondents, among whom 153 (43.6%) were male and 198 (56.4%) were female. The mean age was 2 years (with a standard deviation of 1.25 years). The malaria prevalence among these children attending HRRH was 27.4%. This prevalence was significantly linked to several factors: health serviceseeking behavior, caretaker’s education level, mosquito net usage, child’s age, and caretaker’s occupation, all exhibiting considerable influence on malaria in children under five. Pearson’s correlation indicated the significance of these variables: health serviceseeking behavior (0.139*, P=0.021), mosquito net use (0.286*, P=0.000), and health serviceseeking behavior (0.131*, P=0.021) with a 2-tailed test at a 95% confidence level, P&lt;0.05. The high prevalence of malaria (27.4%) among children attending HRRH in Hoima District is notably affected by health service-seeking behavior, mosquito net usage, caretaker’s education, caretaker’s occupation, and the child’s age. Keywords: Malaria, children less than 5 years, Mosquito, Caretaker, Health service-seeking behaviour.

Trends in ITN Use Prevalence among Children Attending for Malaria Diagnosis in the Main Sentinel Site for Malaria Surveillance of Gabon: Data from 2010 to 2020

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the trends of ITN use and age disparities among children attending for malaria diagnosis in the main sentinel site for malaria surveillance of Gabon.&#x0D; Methodology: Data were collected from September 2023 to October 2023 at the malaria sentinel site for malaria survey of the Regional Hospital of Melen in Gabon. Data from 2010 to 2020, including age, gender, years of screening and ITN use the night before the consultation were reported on a case report form.&#x0D; Results: Data from 13687 children were analyzed, the rate of ITN use was 57.7% (n=7902). The trend of ITN use decreased significantly from 76.2% in 2011 to 41.9% in 2017, with a slight increase until 2019 (54.9%). According to age, use of ITN was more frequently reported in infants (64.1%) and children aged between 2 to less than 5 years (57.1%) compared to older children (53.1%) and adolescents (51.2%) (P&lt;0.01). Although the rate of mosquito net use significantly decreased in all the age groups, the odds of net use remained the highest in children under 5 years and lowest among the adolescents (P&lt;0.01).&#x0D; Conclusion: The ITN use coverage is still insufficient in Libreville. Efforts should be done to achieve the universal coverage of ITN ownership and use toreduce malaria transmission in Gabon.

Community health surveillance via digital collection of syndromic and behavior data by community healthcare workers in rural Kenya: a pilot study

Disease surveillance is essential to enable adequate detection and response to disease outbreaks. Syndromic surveillance is used to augment traditional approaches, especially in community-based surveillance. Here we demonstrate that Community Healthcare Workers (CHWs) supported by a mobile phone application can provide community-based syndromic disease surveillance in low-resource settings, and that they are able to generate relevant symptom-based and behavior data such as cough symptoms, use of mosquito nets and availability of household handwashing facilities. We analyzed 1.6 million data points collected by CHWs during home visits in rural Kenya as a proof of principle that the symptoms and behavior they observe can be used as a community-based health surveillance tool. To demonstrate the relevance of the data, we show that national covid-19 case numbers did not align with reported cough symptoms in remote populations, which implies that rural populations did not experience covid-19 outbreaks in tandem with urban populations. We also found that the behavior of using long-lasting insecticidal nets could be tracked by the CHWs, and it followed the seasonality of the mosquito burden. Strengthening community-based syndromic and behavior surveillance through CHWs is therefore a great opportunity to strengthen national public health surveillance and response in Africa and should be included in the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy.

Evaluation of the Public Perception Regarding Malaria during Pregnancy among Expectant Mothers at Bitereko Health Center III in Mitooma District

The study aimed to evaluate how pregnant mothers at Bitereko Health Center III in Mitooma district perceive malaria during pregnancy and propose preventive interventions. Employing a descriptive cross-sectional design encompassing qualitative and quantitative methods, the research involved 100 participants from the health center. Data analysis utilized Microsoft Excel and SPSS software. Results indicated that 80% of pregnant women were knowledgeable about malaria prevention, including the use of insecticide-treated nets and environmental measures like clearing bushes and stagnant water. However, 20% lacked awareness regarding preventive measures. Identified predisposing risk factors for malaria during pregnancy encompassed poor nutrition, poverty hindering access to balanced diets, unsanitary conditions fostering mosquito breeding sites, and inadequate antenatal care. The study found significant associations between age, occupation, mental state, and education level with knowledge and perception of malaria in pregnancy. Recommendations included government-led health education during antenatal care focusing on malaria causes, prevention, and management of associated complications. Regular medical check-ups before and after delivery were encouraged, along with the consistent use of mosquito nets and other preventive measures against malaria. Keywords: Malaria in pregnancy, Insecticide-treated mosquito nets, Pregnant mothers, Mosquito, antenatal care.

The Presence of Malaria Infection among Pregnant Women: Insights from Jinja Regional Referral Hospital

Malaria, transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes and caused by plasmodium, manifests in symptoms like fever, chills, vomiting, and anemia, posing heightened risks to pregnant women and young children. This study investigated malaria prevalence and contributing factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital from January to June 2019, employing a retrospective cross-sectional approach utilizing existing records. Throughout the study period, the prevalence of malaria infection remained consistently low at 20%. Socioeconomic status emerged as a significant factor affecting malaria treatment, with lower economic standing correlating with higher incidence. While 80% of participants exhibited knowledge about malaria-related complications and preventive measures such as using insecticide-treated mosquito nets and eliminating stagnant water, 20% lacked this crucial awareness. Notably, a disparity was observed in malaria cases between well-educated and less educated attendees at the health unit, with fewer instances among the more educated individuals. Maternal complications primarily centered around anemia, while occurrences of low birth weight and stillbirth were relatively uncommon, attributed to prompt diagnosis and treatment. The study highlighted fluctuating malaria prevalence, indicating the need for extensive awareness campaigns, particularly concerning intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPT1 and IPT2). Collaborative efforts involving the community, government, hospitals, and even spouses are crucial to disseminate crucial information. Encouraging the consistent use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets during pregnancy should be emphasized, although this aspect wasn't specifically addressed in the study. Keywords: Malaria infection, Maternal mortality, Pregnant women, Antenatal care.

Temporal variation of Triatoma dimidiata abundance and infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in domestic and sylvatic habitats of rural Yucatan, Mexico

In the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Chagas disease. This is a native species in the region that principally inhabits sylvatic habitats. Nevertheless, it shows a tolerant behavior to anthropogenic disturbance, with adult bugs frequently infesting human dwellings, principally during the warm and dry season. Yet, whether the temporal variation of abundance is independent of the habitat and how this is related to the infection rate with Trypanosoma cruzi in Yucatan is still poorly understood. The objective of this study was to simultaneously analyze the temporal variations of T. dimidiata abundance and infection with T. cruzi in domestic and sylvatic habitats from two localities of rural Yucatan (Sudzal, 20°52ʹ19″N, 88°59ʹ20″W and Teya, 21°02ʹ55″N, 89°04ʹ25″W) to help for the further improvement of locally adapted strategies aimed at controlling T. cruzi vector transmission. Using community participation and a combination of different trapping techniques, we collected T. dimidiata bugs during 29 consecutive months within domestic and sylvatic habitats. We then assessed by PCR the infection of the bugs with T. cruzi. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate the effect of climatic variables on the abundance of T. dimidiata and the effect of bug sex, season and habitat on the prevalence of infection with T. cruzi. Overall, 3640 specimens of T. dimidiata were collected. We clearly observed peaks of maximum abundance in both habitats during the warm and dry season and found a negative association of bug abundance with relative humidity. The overall prevalence of infection of the bugs with T. cruzi was 15.2 %. Additionally, bugs collected in domestic habitats displayed a significantly higher prevalence of infection than sylvatic bugs (19.6% vs. 6.1 %, respectively), suggesting an increased risk of T. cruzi transmission related with anthropogenic disturbance. Our study is the first to describe the annual pattern of abundance of T. dimidiata in sylvatic habitats of rural Yucatan and constitutes a contribution to the knowledge of T. dimidiata ecology and of T. cruzi transmission cycle dynamics in the region. In Yucatan, where the use of mosquito nets has shown to be effective to limit human dwelling infestation by T. dimidiata, reinforcing the awareness of local residents about the increased risk of T. cruzi transmission during the warm and dry season when realizing activities in the sylvatic ambient should be, among others, also considered to improve control strategies and limit the risk of vector transmission.