title: Status of pesticide management in the practice of vector control: a global survey in countries at risk of malaria or other major vector-borne diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is critical that vector control pesticides are used for their acceptable purpose without causing adverse effects on health and the environment. This paper provides a global overview of the current status of pesticides management in the practice of vector control.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was distributed to WHO member states and completed either by the director of the vector-borne disease control programme or by the national manager for vector control. In all, 113 countries responded to the questionnaire (80% response rate), representing 94% of the total population of the countries targeted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Major gaps were evident in countries in pesticide procurement practices, training on vector control decision making, certification and quality control of pesticide application, monitoring of worker safety, public awareness programmes, and safe disposal of pesticide-related waste. Nevertheless, basic conditions of policy and coordination have been established in many countries through which the management of vector control pesticides could potentially be improved. Most countries responded that they have adopted relevant recommendations by the WHO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the deficiencies identified in this first global survey on public health pesticide management and the recent rise in pesticide use for malaria control, the effectiveness and safety of pesticide use are being compromised. This highlights the urgent need for countries to strengthen their capacity on pesticide management and evidence-based decision making within the context of an integrated vector management approach.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8031, 6700EH Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hii
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mnzava
authors.forename: Birkinesh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ameneshewa
authors.forename: Aditya P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Dash
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ejov
authors.forename: Soo Hian
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Rajpal S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaim
mesh_terms: D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010575:Pesticides; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides