An insecticide-treated bed-net campaign and childhood malaria in Burkina Faso

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate if the first national insecticide-treated bed-net campaign in Burkina Faso, done in 2010, was followed by a decrease in childhood malaria in a district with high baseline transmission of the disease.MethodsWe obtained data on the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia in children aged 2 weeks to 36 months from malaria surveys in 2009 and 2011. We assessed morbidity in children younger than 5 years by comparing data from the Nouna health district’s health management information system before and after the campaign in 2010. We analysed mortality data from 2008 to 2012 from Nouna’s health and demographic surveillance system.FindingsThe bed-net campaign was associated with an increase in the reported use of insecticide-treated nets. In 2009, 73% (630/869) of children reportedly slept under nets. In 2011, 92% (449/487) did. The campaign had no effect on the proportion of young children with P. falciparum parasitaemia after the rainy season; 52% (442/858) in 2009 and 53% (263/499) in 2011. Cases of malaria increased markedly after the campaign, as did the number of children presenting with other diseases. The campaign was not associated with any changes in child mortality.ConclusionThe 2010 insecticide-treated net campaign in Burkina Faso was not associated with a decrease in care-seeking for malaria or all-cause mortality in children younger than 5 years. The most likely explanation is the high coverage of nets in the study area before the campaign which could have had an effect on mosquito vectors, limiting the campaign’s impact.

A cohort study to identify risk factors for Plasmodium falciparum infection in Burkinabe children: implications for other high burden high impact countries

“…ITN use was high with 80.6% of caregivers reporting that the study child slept under an ITN the previous night at the baseline survey. This is in line with other surveys including the 2017-8 MIS survey, which reported that 76.0% children under 5 years slept under an ITN the previous night [7]. The nding of lower reported ITN use in the least poor children (quintile 5) was unexpected.…”

A Cohort Study To Identify Risk Factors For Malaria In Burkinabe Children: Implications For Other High Burden High Impact Countries

“…ITN use was high with 80.6% of caregivers reporting that the study child slept under an ITN the previous night at the baseline survey. This is in line with other surveys including the 2017-8 MIS survey which reported that 76.0% children under 5 years slept under an ITN the previous night (7). Despite this, and considering that the NMCP campaign only took place the year before our study start, there was cause for concern about the durability of the ITNs since only 62.2% of the children's ITNs were in good condition at the nal survey.…”

“…Despite the known protective e cacy of ITNs, the 2010 ITN universal coverage campaign in Burkina Faso did not decrease malaria and all-cause mortality in children younger than 5 years old, despite 92% of children reportedly sleeping under ITNs (7). The study site in Burkina Faso has extremely high prevalence and intensity of pyrethroid resistance in malaria vectors (8,9).…”

A cohort study to identify risk factors for malaria in Burkinabe children: implications for other high burden high impact countries

“…Despite the known protective e cacy of ITNs, the 2010 ITN universal coverage campaign in Burkina Faso did not decrease malaria and all-cause mortality in children younger than 5 years old, even with 92% of children reportedly sleeping under ITNs (7). The study site in Burkina Faso has extremely high prevalence and intensity of pyrethroid resistance in malaria vectors (8,9).…”