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A Meta-Regression Analysis of the Effectiveness of Mosquito Nets for Malaria Control: The Value of Long-Lasting Insecticide Nets

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  • Gi-geun Yang

    (Department of Fire Service Administration, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea)

  • Dohyeong Kim

    (School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA)

  • Anh Pham

    (Department of Economics and International Business, Foreign Trade University, 91 Chua Lang, Dong Da, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam)

  • Christopher John Paul

    (Department of Public Administration, North Carolina Central University, 1801 Fayetteville St., Durham, NC 27707, USA)

Abstract

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have been widely used as an effective alternative to conventional insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) for over a decade. Due to the growing number of field trials and interventions reporting the effectiveness of LLINs in controlling malaria, there is a need to systematically review the literature on LLINs and ITNs to examine the relative effectiveness and characteristics of both insecticide nettings. A systematic review of over 2000 scholarly articles published since the year 2000 was conducted. The odds ratios (ORs) of insecticidal net effectiveness in reducing malaria were recorded. The final dataset included 26 articles for meta-regression analysis, with a sample size of 154 subgroup observations. While there is substantial heterogeneity in study characteristics and effect size, we found that the overall OR for reducing malaria by LLIN use was 0.44 (95% CI = 0.41–0.48, p < 0.01) indicating a risk reduction of 56%, while ITNs were slightly less effective with an OR of 0.59 (95% CI = 0.57–0.61, p <0.01). A meta-regression model confirms that LLINs are significantly more effective than ITNs in the prevention of malaria, when controlling for other covariates. For both types of nets, protective efficacy was greater in high transmission areas when nets were used for an extended period. However, cross-sectional studies may overestimate the effect of the nets. The results surprisingly suggest that nets are less effective in protecting children under the age of five, which may be due to differences in child behavior or inadequate coverage. Compared to a previous meta-analysis, insecticide-treated nets appear to have improved their efficacy despite the risks of insecticide resistance. These findings have practical implications for policymakers seeking effective malaria control strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Gi-geun Yang & Dohyeong Kim & Anh Pham & Christopher John Paul, 2018. "A Meta-Regression Analysis of the Effectiveness of Mosquito Nets for Malaria Control: The Value of Long-Lasting Insecticide Nets," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:3:p:546-:d:136922
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alessandro Tarozzi & Aprajit Mahajan & Brian Blackburn & Dan Kopf & Lakshmi Krishnan & Joanne Yoong, 2014. "Micro-loans, Insecticide-Treated Bednets, and Malaria: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Orissa, India," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(7), pages 1909-1941, July.
    2. Hannah Koenker & Albert Kilian, 2014. "Recalculating the Net Use Gap: A Multi-Country Comparison of ITN Use versus ITN Access," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-7, May.
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    1. José Antonio Garrido-Cardenas & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro & Lilia González-Cerón & Francisco Gil-Montoya & Alfredo Alcayde-Garcia & Nuria Novas & Concepción Mesa-Valle, 2018. "The Identification of Scientific Communities and Their Approach to Worldwide Malaria Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Margaux L. Sadoine & Audrey Smargiassi & Ying Liu & Philippe Gachon & Michel Fournier & Guillaume Dueymes & Jane Frances Namuganga & Grant Dorsey & Bouchra Nasri & Kate Zinszer, 2023. "Differential Influence of Environmental Factors on Malaria Due to Vector Control Interventions in Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Olukunle O. Oyegoke & Olusegun P. Akoniyon & Ropo E. Ogunsakin & Michael O. Ogunlana & Matthew A. Adeleke & Rajendra Maharaj & Moses Okpeku, 2022. "A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Malaria Test Positivity Outcomes and Programme Interventions in Low Transmission Settings in Southern Africa, 2000–2021," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-17, June.

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