Health hazard of using mosquito repellent in Khulna city, Bangladesh

Abstract

PurposeMosquito problem per se arises with diverse weather patterns. With regard to mosquito diseases, people intrinsically use repellents regardless of the harmful effect. The use of repellents like coil, spray, liquid vaporizer and mosquito cream triggers indoor congestion, and thereby respiratory diseases. Eventually, people have to bear high out-of-pocket costs.Design/methodology/approachThis study has applied a stratified systematic sampling technique taking 120 adult individuals from residential and slum areas covering users and non-users of mosquito repellents of Khulna city, Bangladesh. A structured questionnaire has been used to collect data from respondents.FindingsEconometric techniques are exercised to examine the occurrence, severity and duration of different respiratory diseases. Results exhibit that poor and less-educated slum people are more prone to face respiratory diseases compared to residential people. The health cost of slum and residential people is estimated US$ 134 and US$ 9, respectively.Originality/valueFinally, this study underpins arranging public health programs and taking averting actions as an impetus to raise consciousness toward the negative health effect of using mosquito repellents.

Practice and Perception Analysis of Mosquito Coil Usages in Bangladesh

“…It has been shown that those living in rural areas with lower incomes are more likely to use cheaper coils made by a local brand, whilst people living in urban areas are more likely to utilise a variety of insect repellents such as sprays, liquid vaporizers, and coils. On the other hand, this result is very much in line with what many researchers have reported (Moore et al, 2018;Islam, et al, 2022). The findings of the study suggest that the smoke produced by indoor air pollution frequently triggers various respiratory ailments.…”

“…Lastly, it is recommended to utilise appropriate bed nets during night-time hours. Additional investigation could be conducted through the involvement of multiple stakeholders in order to comprehend the potential health ramifications of employing mosquito coils produced within the vicinity (Islam et al, 2022). Therefore, by acquiring knowledge on the various methods employed by individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds to protect themselves against mosquitoes, and collating this information with other relevant data, it is possible to enhance the effectiveness of repellent use.…”

“…Again during the outbreak of Chikungunya in 2017, more than 13,176 cases were confirmed clinically in 17 districts including Dhaka city (Mahmud et al, 2021). Reports indicate that Japanese encephalitis (reported once in 1977), West Nile (reported first time in 2019), Zika viral fever (reported once in 2015) have also entered into Bangladesh like other southeast Asian countries (Islam et al, 2022). This increasing growth rate of mosquitoes is the consequence of continuous climate change and environmental degradation, leading to the formation of mosquito breeding grounds.…”

Pregnant Women’s Exposure to Household Air Pollution in Rural Bangladesh: A Feasibility Study for Poriborton: The CHANge Trial

“…Anecdotal evidence also suggests study participants used household products that produce significant amounts of PM 2.5 , especially black carbon, during the winter. Mosquitos are a nuisance in November–December, and mosquito coil use is likely high during those months leading to the measured elevated PM 2.5 concentrations [ 46 , 47 ]. Use of kerosene lamps as a light source is common in rural Bangladesh and was observed by study personnel during the intervention phase [ 48 , 49 ].…”