Misuse of Bed Nets in Fishing Villages
Author Information
Author(s): Minakawa Noboru, Dida Gabriel O, Sonye Gorge O, Futami Kyoko, Kaneko Satoshi
Primary Institution: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
Hypothesis
How widely are bed nets being misused for fishing and drying fish in villages along Lake Victoria?
Conclusion
There is considerable misuse of bed nets for drying fish and fishing, which may hinder malaria prevention efforts.
Supporting Evidence
- 283 bed nets were used for drying fish, with 239 being long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs).
- 72 bed nets were also used for fishing.
- 85% of bed nets found on the beaches were obtained from NGOs or health facilities.
Takeaway
People in fishing villages are using bed nets to dry fish and for fishing instead of for preventing malaria, which is not good for health.
Methodology
Surveys were conducted in seven fishing villages to estimate the extent of bed net misuse for fishing and drying fish.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in self-reported reasons for bed net use.
Limitations
The study may not account for all bed nets in use or the full extent of misuse across the region.
Participant Demographics
Residents of seven fishing villages along Lake Victoria, primarily involved in fishing and small-scale farming.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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