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Published on: January 16, 2015
Permethrin-impregnated curtains in malaria control
P G Procacci1, L Lamizana, S Kumlien
1Directorate General for Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Permethrin-impregnated curtains significantly reduced malaria episodes and related symptoms in children during moderate transmission periods. This suggests curtains are a viable primary healthcare tool for malaria control.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Tropical Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Malaria remains a significant global health burden, particularly affecting young children.
- Insecticide-treated materials are crucial for malaria vector control strategies.
- Permethrin-impregnated curtains offer a potential method for reducing malaria transmission within households.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of permethrin-impregnated curtains in reducing malaria incidence.
- To assess the impact on parasitaemia and splenomegaly in children aged 0.5-6 years.
- To determine the influence of transmission intensity on the protective effect of the curtains.
Main Methods:
- A 22-month study comparing two groups of children (0.5-6 years old).
- Intervention group: houses with permethrin-impregnated curtains.
- Control group: houses without curtains. Monitored malaria episodes, parasite density, and splenomegaly.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in malaria episodes, parasite density, parasite prevalence, and splenomegaly were observed in the intervention group.
- These reductions were most notable towards the end of the moderate transmission season.
- No clear impact was demonstrated during the high transmission period, suggesting transmission intensity influences efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Permethrin-impregnated curtains are an acceptable and easily maintainable intervention for malaria control.
- Curtains show potential for integration into primary healthcare systems, especially during periods of moderate malaria transmission.
- Community utilization and malaria pressure are key factors affecting the protective efficiency of this intervention.
Abstract:
The impact of permethrin-impregnated curtains on the incidence of malaria episodes, parasitaemia and splenomegaly was assessed during a 22 month period in 2 groups of children aged 0.5-6 years. One group lived in houses where permethrin-impregnated curtains had been installed, the other group lived in houses without curtains. A significant reduction of incidence of malaria episodes, mean parasite density, parasite prevalence and splenomegaly was consistently observed in the intervention group towards the end of the period of moderate transmission, whereas no clear-cut impact could be demonstrated during the high transmission period. The influence of malaria pressure and community utilization on the protective efficiency of curtains is discussed. Because of their acceptability and the ease of reimpregnation, curtains proved to be a suitable technique for integration into primary health care.
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