An education intervention to accompany free mosquito net distribution and promote proper net usage in rural Tanzania

Mass distribution of free mosquito nets has been implemented in many areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. Mosquito nets are typically distributed without accompanying instructions, and are often used incorrectly. We aimed to study whether an education component centered on the etiology of malaria and net usage instructions to accompany free mosquito net distribution would make a difference in proper net usage. Participants were recruited from Shirati, Tanzania in a rural village which has been a recipient of mosquito net distribution campaigns. In this study, randomly selected control households were given a mosquito net without an education component while the intervention group received a mosquito net and an educational intervention. The education component consisted of images demonstrating proper net usage and a verbal explanation of the images and etiology of malaria. Education materials were culturally tailored and translators that spoke local dialects administered the questionnaires and education intervention. A baseline and evaluation questionnaire was administered to measure changes in knowledge of malaria, perceptions of net usage benefits, and proper use and maintenance of the net in both the control and intervention groups. Descriptive analysis will be used to measure any change of perceptions and knowledge between baseline and evaluation among intervention participants compared to control participants. Precise statistical data will be presented at the meeting. Results from the study could be expanded to develop targeted interventions to increase proper mosquito net use and effectiveness of net distribution campaigns.