Bed Nets
last authored: Caroline Ratemo, March 2010
last reviewed:
Introduction
Anopheles mosquito, courtesy of CDC PHIL #7192
Malaria is a serious disease caused by a parasite carried by certain types of mosquitoes. It causes substantial sickness and death.
A key way of reducing malaria infections is through using treated bed nets. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes usually strike at night, between 10pm and 4am. Insecticide- bed nets are treated with an insecticide to kill mosquitoes which come into contact with the bed net; this treatment can be used for both old and new nets.
Use of Bed Nets
bed nets in a Nigerian pediatric ICU, courtesy of Mike Blyth
In sub-Saharan Africa, consistently sleeping under a treated net has shown to decrease severe malaria by 45%, reduce premature births by 42%, and cut child mortality by 17% to 63%.
How to use treated bed nets:
- Hang the treated net over the bed
- Tuck the bed net under the mattress all around the bed to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
- After treating the net, it should not be washed too frequently
- Re- treat the net again every 4-6 months
Promoting Bed Nets
When treated-bed net coverage rates reach 80% or more in a community, even residents not sleeping under a bed net also obtain a protective benefit.
Resources and References
Roll Back Malaria, President’s Malaria Initiative, The World Health Organization, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
UNICEF; Water, Sanitation and Health, accessed on 23rd March 2010
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, accessed on 23rd March 2010
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