It’s time that alternative uses of old and worn out mosquito nets wasn’t interpreted as misuse but seen as an innovative way of using them, found a Kenyan study.
Explaining how old and torn mosquito bed nets are being reused in coastal Kenya, Dr Lydiah Kibe is quoted in The Conversation as saying: “Mosquitoes are a nuisance and cause irritation. On the public health front, they transmit diseases such as malaria, Rift Valley Fever, Dengue fever, Zika virus and Chikungunya, yellow fever, filariasis among others.
“One of the key ways mosquitoes are controlled is through the use of insecticide treated nets which are hung over beds, especially at night. Insecticide treated nets reduce illnesses and deaths from malaria. It can reduce deaths in children by a fifth and episodes of malaria by half.
“Since 2002 about 30m nets have been distributed in Kenya to high risk groups especially pregnant women and children under five years. In 2006, about 3.4m Long Lasting Insecticides Nets were given at no cost to children under five in malaria endemic areas in Kenya. Six years later, 11.5m treated nets were distributed in the 87 malaria prone regions in the western, coast and parts of eastern Kenya. Furthermore, a mass distribution campaign is underway in Kenya to provide 15m treated nets in 23 malaria prone counties.
“The aim is to achieve universal coverage, targeting one treated bed net per two household members.
“Other interventions used to control mosquitoes include; aerosols- a spray that contains a natural active ingredient that kills mosquitoes; repellents- applied to skin, clothing, or other surfaces to discourage mosquitoes from landing or climbing on that surface; screening windows and eaves- netting material mostly on windows that prevents entry of mosquitoes; and larviciding- an insecticide that specifically targets the larval life stage of a mosquito
“Our study was done in 888 households in Malindi, coastal Kenya. It was motivated by a lack of guidelines on disposing old, expired and torn mosquito nets especially after a mass distribution. We investigated the reuse of bed nets, particularly those that were old, torn and expired bed nets. The nets are made of polyethylene or polyester materials which are strong and long lasting.
“There are no official guidelines to follow, but we found that residents had devised imaginative, creative and innovative ways of recycling them.
“The most popular reuses we found were: a quarter of the respondents had used them to reinforce fences and shelters; as net ropes for tying animals; building and furniture materials (23%); protecting seedlings (17%); as chicken coops (13%); as window screens (11%); covering wells and water containers (4%); to scrub utensils; and as a sponge for personal hygiene during bathing.
“Children also put them to use. We found that they had been fashioned into goal posts, strings and jumping ropes as well as swings. We also found that women liked to use the material to make a traditional attire known as hando – a short skirt made of a long material, preferably cotton, folded into gathers. These are usually made from old clothes or material made from sisal.
“Nets eventually become ineffective. This happens when they are old, worn out and insecticidal activity is reduced. Residents dispose them once they’ve been repaired them many times or the holes have become too big and numerous. Damage to nets is often caused by tin lamps, friction from a mat or edge of the bed, sparks from a fire and children playing with them. They were also often washed frequently.
“It’s time that alternative uses of old and worn out nets wasn’t interpreted as misuse but seen as an innovative way of using them.
“However, health promotion officers should provide guidance on alternative uses. For example, people could be encouraged to use them in a way that compliments malaria control efforts such as using them as window screens and covering water wells.
“In addition, efforts should be made to involve communities in viable and realistic ways of reusing old nets. This could be done without compromising the overall goals of malaria control initiatives. For example, they could serve as alternative sources of income by encouraging collection, sorting and making ropes which could then be sold.”
Abstract
About 30 million insecticide treated bednets 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 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. A formative study was conducted in the former Malindi District in Coastal Kenya. A total of 6 Focus Group Discussions, 10 Key Informant Interviews and 9 transect walks/drives were undertaken. 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. It is important that re-use and disposal of old nets is distinguished from misuse of newly distributed nets. Alternative uses of old nets as opposed to misuse of new nets was found to be common in our study.
Authors
Lydiah W Kibe, Anne W Kamau, John K Gachigi, Annette Habluetzel, Charles M Mbogo
[link url="https://theconversation.com/kenyan-study-shows-why-reusing-old-mosquito-nets-should-be-encouraged-76358"]The Conversation report[/link]
[link url="https://malariaworld.org/mwj/2015/research-formative-study-disposal-and-re-use-old-mosquito-nets-communities-malindi-kenya"]Malaria World abstract[/link]