A Stitch in Time May Save Lives: Turning Poor Bednets Into Good Ones

NCT00169117 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: DIF8
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 772
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Although the use of mosquito nets has increased in Africa, many of the nets used are in a poor state, and not an effective barrier against mosquitoes. This pilot study examines whether subsistence farmers in rural Africa can be encouraged to repair their mosquito nets and use their bednets appropriately. Attitudes and practises on sewing and net use were examined in The Gambia and an intervention developed to promote net repair. Songs and posters were used to emphasise the importance of repairing nets and their correct use, and served as aural and visual reminders to repair nets now rather than postpone this household chore. The intervention was aimed at effectively and cheaply turning a poor net into a good one.

Conditions

Malaria

Keywords

Mosquito nets; Malaria prevention; Songs; Posters; Net repair; Bednets

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Number of bednets repaired (pre- vs post intervention)

  November 2003

• Mean proportion of holes repaired/net (pre- vs post intervention)

  November 2003

• Reduction in mosquitoes with a good net compared with a poor one (pre-intervention survey).

  November 2003

• Reduction in mosquitoes with a good net compared with a repaired net (post-intervention survey)

  November 2003

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Community acceptability

  November 2003

Study Arms (1)

1

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioural intervention: Songs/posters aimed at behaviour change to increase repair and maintenance of mosquito nets

Behavioral: Songs/posters aimed at behaviour change

Interventions

Songs/posters aimed at behaviour change BEHAVIORAL

This was a behavioural intervention, using songs and posters composed/designed by community members which aimed at behaviour change to increase repair and maintenance of mosquito nets

1

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Community consent
• Willingness to participate in study

You may not qualify if:

• None

Sponsors & Collaborators

• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine: lead
• University of Durham: collaborator
• Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Medical Research Council Laboratories

Farafenni, The Gambia

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Lomas H, Panter-Brick C, Clarke S, Lindsay S, Pinder M & Walraven G. (2004). A community intervention to repair bed nets for malaria prevention in the Gambia [abstract]. Annals of Human Biology, 31(1): 116

  BACKGROUND

• Panter-Brick C, Clarke SE, Lomas H, Pinder M, Lindsay SW. Culturally compelling strategies for behaviour change: a social ecology model and case study in malaria prevention. Soc Sci Med. 2006 Jun;62(11):2810-25. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.10.009. Epub 2005 Dec 13.

  PMID: 16352385 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Malaria

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Protozoan Infections; Parasitic Diseases; Infections; Mosquito-Borne Diseases; Vector Borne Diseases

Study Officials

• Steven W Lindsay, PhD

  University of Durham

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Sian E Clarke, PhD

  London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, UK

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Catherine Panter-Brick, PhD

  University of Durham

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 13, 2005
• First Posted: September 15, 2005
• Study Start: June 1, 2002
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2002
• Study Completion: December 1, 2002
• Last Updated: January 12, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-01

Locations

TH (1)