Insecticide-treated net coverage in Africa: mapping progress in 2000-07

Background: Insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) provide a means to improve child survival across Africa. Sales figures of these nets and survey coverage data presented nationally mask inequities in populations at biological and economic risk, and do not allow for precision in the estimation of unmet...

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Main Authors: Noor, A, Mutheu, J, Tatem, A, Hay, S, Snow, R
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2009
Subjects:
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author Noor, A
Mutheu, J
Tatem, A
Hay, S
Snow, R
author_facet Noor, A
Mutheu, J
Tatem, A
Hay, S
Snow, R
author_sort Noor, A
collection OXFORD
description Background: Insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) provide a means to improve child survival across Africa. Sales figures of these nets and survey coverage data presented nationally mask inequities in populations at biological and economic risk, and do not allow for precision in the estimation of unmet commodity needs. We gathered subnational ITN coverage sample survey data from 40 malaria-endemic countries in Africa between 2000 and 2007. Methods: We computed the projected ITN coverage among children aged less than 5 years for age-adjusted population data that were stratified according to malaria transmission risks, proximate determinants of poverty, and methods of ITN delivery. Findings: In 2000, only 1.7 million (1.8%) African children living in stable malaria-endemic conditions were protected by an ITN and the number increased to 20.3 million (18.5%) by 2007 leaving 89.6 million children unprotected. Of these, 30 million were living in some of the poorest areas of Africa: 54% were living in only seven countries and 25% in Nigeria alone. Overall, 33 (83%) countries were estimated to have ITN coverage of less than 40% in 2007. On average, we noted a greater increase in ITN coverage in areas where free distribution had operated between survey periods. Interpretation: By mapping the distribution of populations in relation to malaria risk and intervention coverage, we provide a means to track the future requirements for scaling up essential disease-prevention strategies. The present coverage of ITN in Africa remains inadequate and a focused effort to improve distribution in selected areas would have a substantial effect on the continent's malaria burden.
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spelling oxford-uuid:3684babb-290a-4176-94ee-6ae33d2d6eed2022-03-26T13:38:28ZInsecticide-treated net coverage in Africa: mapping progress in 2000-07Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:3684babb-290a-4176-94ee-6ae33d2d6eedZoological sciencesEpidemiologyMalariaTropical medicineEnglishOxford University Research Archive - ValetElsevier2009Noor, AMutheu, JTatem, AHay, SSnow, RBackground: Insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) provide a means to improve child survival across Africa. Sales figures of these nets and survey coverage data presented nationally mask inequities in populations at biological and economic risk, and do not allow for precision in the estimation of unmet commodity needs. We gathered subnational ITN coverage sample survey data from 40 malaria-endemic countries in Africa between 2000 and 2007. Methods: We computed the projected ITN coverage among children aged less than 5 years for age-adjusted population data that were stratified according to malaria transmission risks, proximate determinants of poverty, and methods of ITN delivery. Findings: In 2000, only 1.7 million (1.8%) African children living in stable malaria-endemic conditions were protected by an ITN and the number increased to 20.3 million (18.5%) by 2007 leaving 89.6 million children unprotected. Of these, 30 million were living in some of the poorest areas of Africa: 54% were living in only seven countries and 25% in Nigeria alone. Overall, 33 (83%) countries were estimated to have ITN coverage of less than 40% in 2007. On average, we noted a greater increase in ITN coverage in areas where free distribution had operated between survey periods. Interpretation: By mapping the distribution of populations in relation to malaria risk and intervention coverage, we provide a means to track the future requirements for scaling up essential disease-prevention strategies. The present coverage of ITN in Africa remains inadequate and a focused effort to improve distribution in selected areas would have a substantial effect on the continent's malaria burden.
spellingShingle Zoological sciences
Epidemiology
Malaria
Tropical medicine
Noor, A
Mutheu, J
Tatem, A
Hay, S
Snow, R
Insecticide-treated net coverage in Africa: mapping progress in 2000-07
title Insecticide-treated net coverage in Africa: mapping progress in 2000-07
title_full Insecticide-treated net coverage in Africa: mapping progress in 2000-07
title_fullStr Insecticide-treated net coverage in Africa: mapping progress in 2000-07
title_full_unstemmed Insecticide-treated net coverage in Africa: mapping progress in 2000-07
title_short Insecticide-treated net coverage in Africa: mapping progress in 2000-07
title_sort insecticide treated net coverage in africa mapping progress in 2000 07
topic Zoological sciences
Epidemiology
Malaria
Tropical medicine
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AT mutheuj insecticidetreatednetcoverageinafricamappingprogressin200007
AT tatema insecticidetreatednetcoverageinafricamappingprogressin200007
AT hays insecticidetreatednetcoverageinafricamappingprogressin200007
AT snowr insecticidetreatednetcoverageinafricamappingprogressin200007