Insecticide-Treated Plastic Sheeting for Emergency Malaria Prevention and Shelter among Displaced Populations: An Observational Cohort Study in a Refugee Setting in Sierra Leone

Author(s)
Burns, M., Rowland, M., N’Guessan, R., Carneiro, I., Beeche, A., Sesler Ruiz, S., Kamara, S., Takken, W., Carnevale, P. and Allan R.
Publication language
English
Pages
9pp
Date published
01 Jan 2012
Publisher
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Type
Articles
Keywords
Development & humanitarian aid, Health
Countries
Sierra Leone
Link
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/87/2/242.full.pdf+html

A double-blind phase III malaria prevention trial was conducted in two refugee camps using premanufactured
insecticide-treated plastic sheeting (ITPS) or untreated polyethylene sheeting (UPS) randomly deployed
to defined sectors of each camp. In Largo camp the ITPS or UPS was attached to inner walls and ceilings of shelters,
whereas in Tobanda the ITPS or UPS was used to line only the ceiling and roof. In Largo the Plasmodium falciparum
incidence rate in children up to 3 years of age who were cleared of parasites and monitored for 8 months was
163/100 person-years under UPS and 63 under ITPS (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.40, 95% confidence interval
[CI] = 0.33–0.47). In Tobanda incidence was 157/100 person-years under UPS and 134 under ITPS (AOR = 0.85, 95%
CI = 0.75–0.95). Protective efficacy was 61% under fully lined ITPS and 15% under roof lined ITPS. Anemia rates
improved under ITPS in both camps. This novel tool proved to be a convenient, safe, and long-lasting method of malaria
control when used as a full shelter lining in an emergency setting