A Formative Study Of Disposal And Re-use Of Old Mosquito Nets By Communities In Malindi, Kenya
View/ Open
Date
2015-06Author
Kibe, Lydiah W
Kamau, Anne W
Gachigi, John K.
Habluetze, Annette
Mbogo, Charles M
Type
en_USLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background.
About 30 million insecticide treated mosquito nets have been distributed in Kenya since 2001 and ownership
is approaching full coverage. As a consequence of this achievement, Kenya is faced with the challenge of disposing old
mosquito nets that are no longer in use. The study aimed at investigating ways of disposal and re
-
use of old and torn nets by
end users.
Materials and Methods.
A formative study was conducted in the former Malindi District, which is comprised of Malindi
and Magarini sub
-
counties of Kilifi County in Coastal Kenya. A total of 6 Focus Group Discussions, 10 Key Informant
Interviews and 9 transect walks/drives were undertaken. Data from the different sources were analysed separately and
triangulated for similarities and differences.
Results.
There were variations in disposal and re
-
use of old nets between urban and rural or peri
-
urban residents. In all
settings, people adopted innovative and beneficial ways of re
-
using old, expired nets, and those that were damaged beyond
repair. Common causes of damage were fire, children, domestic animals sharing the sleeping room and friction from the bed
poles while hanging or tacking it in under a sleeping mat. Re
-
use was most prominent in farming activities (78%) and less to
for use in mosquito control, like window screening (15%). The remaining 8% was related to making ropes, swings, footballs,
goal posts and fishing nets. Advantageous texture and nature of the netting material, perceived economic benefit and lack of
guidelines for disposal were the main reasons cited by residents for re
-
using old nets.
Conclusions.
It is important that re
-
use and disposal of old mosquito nets is distinguished from misuse of newly distributed
mosquito nets. Alternative uses of old nets as opposed to misuse of new nets was found to be common in our study.
Citation
Kibe, L. W., Kamau, A. W., Gachigi, J. K., Habluetzel, A., & Mbogo, C. M. A formative study of disposal and re-use of old mosquito nets by communities in Malindi, Kenya. MalariaWorld Journal , www.malariaworld.org, 6(9), PP. 1-9Publisher
University of Nairobi