title: Sleeping arrangements under long-lasting impregnated mosquito nets: differences during low and high malaria transmission seasons.
abstract: Sleeping arrangements under long-lasting impregnated nets (LLIN) were recorded in 2467 households during the low malaria transmission season (May-June 2007) and the same families were followed up during the high malaria transmission season (December 2007-January 2008) in two malaria-endemic areas of Sri Lanka. Approximately 800 households each from the three main ethnic groups were studied. The number of families lost to follow-up was 68. A significant increase was seen in the proportion of households using LLINs the previous night during the high transmission season (96%) compared with the low transmission season (90%) (P< or =0.001 for all three ethnic groups). When sleeping arrangements of the entire population were considered, priority to sleep under the LLIN was given to children under 5 years during both seasons. The percentage of children under five who slept under a LLIN increased from 75% during the low transmission season to 90% during the high transmission season. Utilisation of LLINs by pregnant women was low; only approximately 45% of pregnant women reported sleeping under a LLIN during both seasons. The study suggests the possible need for re-focusing of health education messages regarding the importance of LLIN use among pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, P.O. Box 271, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka. deepfern@slt.lk
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Abeyasinghe
authors.forename: G N L
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Galappaththy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gunawardena
authors.forename: A C R
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ranasinghe
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rajapaksa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005191:Family Characteristics / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D057147:Mosquito Nets / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012621:Seasons; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult