title: Reports of long-lasting insecticidal bed nets catching on fire: a threat to bed net users and to successful malaria control?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the control tools to reduce malaria transmission is the use of LLINs. However, several studies show that household bed net use is quite low. A study was developed to better understand the cultural factors that might explain these gaps in Benin. One reason mentioned is that bed nets can catch on fire and cause harm. This paper presents a summary of these findings, their analysis and the ensuing issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  This anthropological study is based on an inductive qualitative approach, including 91 semi-structured interviews conducted from July 2011 to March 2012 in a health district in Southern Benin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six persons stated that bed nets can catch on fire but do not always refer to specific facts. However, 34 of the 56 people narrate specific events they heard or experienced. 39 accounts were geographically located and situated in time, with various details. In 27 situations, people were burned, for which 12 people reportedly died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The disparity between these results and the dearth of bibliographic documentation in the initial search prompted a more in-depth literature review: 16 contributions between 1994 and 2013 were found. Bed net fires were noted in 10 countries, but it is impossible to ascertain the frequency of such events. Moreover, bodily harm can be significant, and several cases of death attributed to bed net fires were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Indisputably, the use of bed nets to reduce the impact of this terrible disease is an optimal control method. However, the perception that LLINs have a potentially negative effect hinders the use rate in the real world, at least for some. If some people fear the risk of fires, this possibility must be addressed during information and prevention sessions on malaria, with a communication strategy tailored to specific social contexts. Moreover, all possible measures should be taken to limit the harm suffered by individuals and their families.
authors: MIVEGEC, Maladies Infectieuses à Vecteurs, Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Universités de Montpellier 1 & 2, Montpellier, France. marc.egrot@ird.fr.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Egrot
authors: Roch
authors: R
authors: Houngnihin
authors: Carine
authors: C
authors: Baxerres
authors: Georgia
authors: G
authors: Damien
authors: Armel
authors: A
authors: Djènontin
authors: Fabrice
authors: F
authors: Chandre
authors: Cédric
authors: C
authors: Pennetier
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Corbel
authors: Franck
authors: F
authors: Remoué
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home; D000328:Adult; D001541:Benin / Q000453:epidemiology; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D003469:Culture; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control; D006227:Hand Deformities, Acquired / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D057148:Insecticide-Treated Bednets / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011639:Public Opinion; D036301:Qualitative Research