Use of insecticide-treated nets and other household insecticides for preventing malaria in six-year-old children in Benin, sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND AND AIM In addition to early diagnosis and treatment of malaria, the cornerstone of malaria control lies in the use of insecticides such as long-lasting insecticidal treated nets (LLITNs), household spraying, mosquito coils or sprays. However, the quantification of other household insecticides use, including coils and sprays, was less assessed so far. The main insecticide used for LLITN, coils and sprays is pyrethroid. The objectives of the study were to describe the LLITN and other household insecticides used for preventing malaria and to determine factors associated with these different uses. METHODS Data were collected on 567 mothers from a birth cohort in the district of Allada, a semi-urban area in Benin. Mothers were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire when their offspring were 6 years of age. Associations between LLITNs, other household insecticide use, sociodemographic and environmental factors, were assessed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS Eighty percent of mothers declared that their six-year-old child slept under a LLITN the night before the visit. Approximatively 23% and 7% of households used coils and sprays at home, respectively. When using coils, 62% of families were using them at least once a week. Being a girl, living with the father, having a high number of siblings at home, rainy season and non-use of coils at home were significantly associated with LLITN use. Use of coils was associated with non-LLITN use, having moved since child’s birth and absence of stove in the house. CONCLUSION Children at six years of age were frequently sleeping under LLITN. However, a considerable proportion of them was sleeping in proximity to coils, but not under LLITN. These coils have no proven efficacy in the reduction of malaria vectors so far and may potentially expose children to pyrethroids.