In early February, WHO supported Ministry of Health (MoH) to collect baseline data as the first activity of monitoring physical durability and efficacy of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) in Indonesia. LLINs have played an important role in the success of reducing the malaria burden over the past decade, and are a tool widely used by people at risk of malaria. Monitoring durability and efficacy of the insecticide treated nets is suggested by WHO to be conducted in malaria-endemic countries after LLIN mass distribution campaigns to determine when the nets no longer meet WHO minimum standard and replacement timeline.
In collaboration with the Directorate for Vector Borne Diseases Control, the National Institute of Research of Vectors and Animal Reservoir (BBPPVRP) led the six-day monitoring activity. This activity took place in Jayapura, Papua Province, four months after the LLINs were initially distributed to households. Two sub-districts: Nimboran and Nimbokrang, were selected for long-term monitoring over the next three years.
Caption: Two enumerators walked to visit selected households for baseline data collection. Credit: WHO/Herdiana/2020
Two types of LLINs were being monitored: YarkoolⓇ (ingredient: Deltamethrin 55 mg/m2) and Royal SentryⓇ (ingredient: Alpha-cypermethrin 261 mg/m2). The monitoring activity involved structured interviews in 870 randomly selected households from 16 villages from 3-8 February 2020. The interviews included sociodemographic questions on household characteristics, as well as questions on knowledge, ownership and use of LLINs. The 30 minute interviews took place in each selected house with an adult household member and a trained team of enumerators from provincial and district health offices. In addition to the interview, enumerators also labelled selected LLINs to be followed-up for three years using unique codes.
The activity resulted in 100% of targeted households being interviewed by enumerators at baseline. The collected data are now in the process of being validating and analysed. The next step will be to conduct monitoring visits to assess LLIN durability and efficacy periodically every six months for the next three years following the first baseline visit. Results will be used by MoH to develop strategies to maintain universal coverage and use of LLINs.
Main image caption: interview with head of household during a monitoring visit. Credit: WHO/Herdiana/2020