Acceptability and usage of permethrin-impregnated mosquito bed nets in rural southwestern Saudi Arabia

In 1989 a total of 2,320 sets of locally-made durable permethrin-impregnated bed nets and support frames were provided for the first time to 410 families (2,485 individuals) in Al-Fateeha area in the malarious region of Tihamat Asir, southwestern Saudi Arabia. In interviews carried out with a sample of the heads of the families two years later, most of them said to have used bed nets regularly (78.3%) and a majority started using them shortly after sunset (73.9%). Most heads of families expressed willingness to encourage their friends and neighbours to get bed nets (94.4%) and use them regularly (92.9%). Public requests for bed nets were received from neighbouring areas. These results indicate that impregnated bed nets can be successfully integrated into a malaria control programme provided that they are of a durable type and accompanied with support devices to facilitate their use while sleeping outdoors. Records of the primary health care centre serving the trial area indicated that the incidence of malaria decreased progressively from 277.4 per thousand in 1988 to 124.4 in 1991. The possible contribution of mosquito nets--as a major newly introduced variable--to this decrease is suggested but was not directly measured.