Kala Chouakeu Nelly Armanda, Bindamu Mabu Maxim, Ngangue Siewe Idriss Nasser, Nkahe Leslie, Ningahi Laura Gilberine, Yensii Nina Ghislaine, Bamou Roland, Awono-Ambene Parfait, Metoh Njuabe Theresia, Tchuinkam Timoléon, Antonio Nkondjio Christophe
Vector Borne Diseases Laboratory of the Research Unit of Biology and Applied Ecology (VBID-RUBAE), Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
Organisation de Coordination pour la Lutte Contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
J Med Entomol. 2025 Jul 17;62(4):876-885. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjaf014.
Malaria continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Cameroon, requiring effective prevention strategies. Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) are widely distributed as a key control measure, but their physical integrity and effectiveness need to be monitored. This study aimed to assess the condition and bio-efficacy of LLINs in 2 regions of Cameroon, namely Santchou in the West and Bertoua in the East. The study evaluated LLIN use and care using a structured questionnaire, following World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for assessing physical integrity. Bio-efficacy was measured using the 3-min WHO cone assay. The results showed that the ownership and usage rates of mosquito nets were 93.91% and 72.70% in Santchou and 60.68% and 41.11% in Bertoua, respectively. In Santchou, 5.26% of LLINs were damaged, with 21.05% rendered unusable while in Bertoua, 29.41% of the used LLINs were damaged with 16.47% unusable. The knockdown rate with field mosquito populations was 65.49% with mortality rate of 61.24% in Bertoua. In Santchou, knockdown rate was 10.23%, and mortality rate 14.97%. The LLINs tested were found highly effective against susceptible strain. These findings urgently require the National Malaria Control Program of Cameroon to improve public awareness on consistent and proper LLIN usage and address the decline in LLIN effectiveness, particularly in cities like Bertoua and Santchou. Targeted interventions should focus on improving LLINs distribution, educating the population on correct usage practices, and implementing regular monitoring of physical integrity and bio-efficacy of insecticide-treated bed nets as these LLINs get degraded.
疟疾在喀麦隆仍然是一项重大的公共卫生挑战，需要有效的预防策略。长效驱虫蚊帐（LLINs）作为一项关键控制措施被广泛分发，但需要对其物理完整性和有效性进行监测。本研究旨在评估喀麦隆两个地区（即西部的桑楚和东部的贝图阿）的长效驱虫蚊帐的状况和生物效力。该研究按照世界卫生组织（WHO）评估物理完整性的指南，使用结构化问卷对长效驱虫蚊帐的使用和维护情况进行了评估。生物效力通过3分钟的WHO锥形试验进行测量。结果显示，桑楚的蚊帐拥有率和使用率分别为93.91%和72.70%，贝图阿的蚊帐拥有率和使用率分别为60.68%和41.11%。在桑楚，5.26%的长效驱虫蚊帐有损坏，21.05%无法使用；而在贝图阿，29.41%的已使用长效驱虫蚊帐有损坏，16.47%无法使用。贝图阿对野外蚊虫种群的击倒率为65.49%，死亡率为61.24%。在桑楚，击倒率为10.23%，死亡率为14.97%。所测试的长效驱虫蚊帐对敏感菌株非常有效。这些发现迫切要求喀麦隆国家疟疾控制项目提高公众对长效驱虫蚊帐持续正确使用的认识，并解决长效驱虫蚊帐有效性下降的问题，特别是在贝图阿和桑楚等城市。有针对性的干预措施应侧重于改善长效驱虫蚊帐的分发，教育民众正确的使用方法，并在这些长效驱虫蚊帐降解时对驱虫蚊帐的物理完整性和生物效力进行定期监测。
