Effect of sustained insecticide-treated bed net use on all-cause child mortality in an area of intense perennial malaria transmission in western Kenya

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2005 Jul;73(1):149-56.

Abstract

We present results from a study conducted in western Kenya where all-cause child mortality was assessed among a population with high levels of sustained insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) use for up to six years. Although ITNs were associated with significant reductions in all-cause mortality among infants 1-11 months old, there was no difference in the rate of all-cause mortality among children 12-59 months old with ITNs for 2-4 years, compared historically with children from villages without ITNs, after controlling for seasonality and underlying child mortality across calendar years (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.77-1.07). There was no increase in the proportion of child deaths at older ages (12-59 months old) of all child deaths within villages with ITNs for 5-6 years (48.1%) compared historically with villages without ITNs (47.9%), after controlling for seasonality (AHR = 1.03, P = 0.834). We find no evidence that sustained ITN use increased the risk of mortality in older children in this area of intense perennial malaria transmission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bedding and Linens*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Geography
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Insecticides*
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Malaria / mortality
  • Malaria / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Mosquito Control* / methods
  • Proportional Hazards Models

Substances

  • Insecticides