Papers by Baldur Steinn Helgason
Introduction: Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) are one of the most efficient evidence-based in... more Introduction: Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) are one of the most efficient evidence-based interventions to combat malaria infection and the high under-five mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa. The nets are costly and are thus increasingly subsidised or distributed free of charge. The Ministry of Health and Unicef distributed a total of 240 thousand LLINs to children less that five years of age in 2006 and 2007. Objective: Gather information on mosquito prevention in Guinea-Bissau, especially the use of bed-nets, their origin and attitudes toward the nets. The research also explored environmental factors. Methodology: The research was carried out in four coastal regions for three and a half months from August to mid-November 2007. Qualitative methods included open interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. Quantitative methods included standardised questionnaires as well as use of documents from health care officials. Official permission for the research was obtained from the government. Results: Bed-nets are considered indispensable during the rainy season and they are exclusively used for insect protection. Other methods of insect protection include the use of different varieties of smoke. Majority of the bed-nets in circulation are bought untreated and unsubsidised from local markets. Use of bednets in many areas is above 90% with several individuals sleeping under each net. Very remote rural areas, i.e. small islands, have limited access to markets and prices are high. These areas show much lower rates of bed-net use and need special attention in net distributions and measures to increase marketing. Implications: The distribution structure of the Ministry of Public Health is an important resource. My research underlines the importance of assuring stable funding for the continuous ITNs distribution and re-treatment programs with longterm funding commitments. The roughly hundred year history of the fight against the disease has shown that malaria cannot be eradicated with simple "magic solutions". Different methods must be integrated to achieve results and the connection between malaria and poverty need to be addressed.
SUMMARY Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) are one of the most efficient evidence-based interven... more SUMMARY Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) are one of the most efficient evidence-based interventions to combat malaria infection and the high under-five mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa. Such interventions are hampered by high cost at the individual level and are thus increasingly subsidised or distributed free of charge. UNICEF and the local Ministry of Public Health collaborated to distribute 300,000 ITNs to households in Guinea-Bissau in the dry season of 2006/07.
Introduction: Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) are one of the most efficient evidence-based in... more Introduction: Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) are one of the most efficient evidence-based interventions to combat malaria infection and the high under-five mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa. The nets are costly and are thus increasingly subsidised or distributed free of charge. The Ministry of Health and Unicef distributed a total of 240 thousand LLINs to children less that five years of age in 2006 and 2007.
Objective: Gather information on mosquito prevention in Guinea-Bissau, especially the use of bed-nets, their origin and attitudes toward the nets. The research also explored environmental factors.
Methodology: The research was carried out in four coastal regions for three and a half months from August to mid-November 2007. Qualitative methods included open interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. Quantitative methods included standardised questionnaires as well as use of documents from health care officials. Official permission for the research was obtained from the government.
Results: Bed-nets are considered indispensable during the rainy season and they are exclusively used for insect protection. Other methods of insect protection include the use of different varieties of smoke. Majority of the bed-nets in circulation are bought untreated and unsubsidised from local markets. Use of bed-nets in most areas is above 90% with many individuals sleeping under each net. Very remote rural areas, i.e. small islands, have limited access to markets and prices are high. These areas show much lower rates of bed-net use and need special attention in net distributions and measures to increase marketing.
Implications: The distribution structure of the Ministry of Public Health is an important resource. My research underlines the importance of assuring stable funding for the continuous ITNs distribution and re-treatment programs with long-term commitments in mind. The roughly hundred year history of the fight against the disease has shown that malaria cannot be eradicated with simple “magic solutions”. Different methods must be integrated to achieve results and the connection between malaria and poverty need to be addressed.
Key words: Malaria, ITNs, LLINs, bed-nets, distributions, Guinea-Bissau.
Introduction: Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) are one of the most efficient evidence-based in... more Introduction: Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) are one of the most efficient evidence-based interventions to combat malaria infection and the high under-five mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa. The nets are costly and are thus increasingly subsidised or distributed free of charge. The Ministry of Health and Unicef distributed a total of 240 thousand LLINs to children less that five years of age in 2006 and 2007. Objective: Gather information on mosquito prevention in Guinea-Bissau, especially the use of bed-nets, their origin and attitudes toward the nets. The research also explored environmental factors. Methodology: The research was carried out in four coastal regions for three and a half months from August to mid-November 2007. Qualitative methods included open interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. Quantitative methods included standardised questionnaires as well as use of documents from health care officials. Official permission for the research was obtained from the government. Results: Bed-nets are considered indispensable during the rainy season and they are exclusively used for insect protection. Other methods of insect protection include the use of different varieties of smoke. Majority of the bed-nets in circulation are bought untreated and unsubsidised from local markets. Use of bednets in many areas is above 90% with several individuals sleeping under each net. Very remote rural areas, i.e. small islands, have limited access to markets and prices are high. These areas show much lower rates of bed-net use and need special attention in net distributions and measures to increase marketing. Implications: The distribution structure of the Ministry of Public Health is an important resource. My research underlines the importance of assuring stable funding for the continuous ITNs distribution and re-treatment programs with longterm funding commitments. The roughly hundred year history of the fight against
Introduction: Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) are one of the most efficient evidence-based in... more Introduction: Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) are one of the most efficient evidence-based interventions to combat malaria infection and the high under-five mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa. The nets are costly and are thus increasingly subsidised or distributed free of charge. The Ministry of Health and Unicef distributed a total of 240 thousand LLINs to children less that five years of age in 2006 and 2007. Objective: Gather information on mosquito prevention in Guinea-Bissau, especially the use of bed-nets, their origin and attitudes toward the nets. The research also explored environmental factors. Methodology: The research was carried out in four coastal regions for three and a half months from August to mid-November 2007. Qualitative methods included open interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. Quantitative methods included standardised questionnaires as well as use of documents from health care officials. Official permission for the research was obtained from the government. Results: Bed-nets are considered indispensable during the rainy season and they are exclusively used for insect protection. Other methods of insect protection include the use of different varieties of smoke. Majority of the bed-nets in circulation are bought untreated and unsubsidised from local markets. Use of bednets in many areas is above 90% with several individuals sleeping under each net. Very remote rural areas, i.e. small islands, have limited access to markets and prices are high. These areas show much lower rates of bed-net use and need special attention in net distributions and measures to increase marketing. Implications: The distribution structure of the Ministry of Public Health is an important resource. My research underlines the importance of assuring stable funding for the continuous ITNs distribution and re-treatment programs with longterm funding commitments. The roughly hundred year history of the fight against
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Papers by Baldur Steinn Helgason
Objective: Gather information on mosquito prevention in Guinea-Bissau, especially the use of bed-nets, their origin and attitudes toward the nets. The research also explored environmental factors.
Methodology: The research was carried out in four coastal regions for three and a half months from August to mid-November 2007. Qualitative methods included open interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. Quantitative methods included standardised questionnaires as well as use of documents from health care officials. Official permission for the research was obtained from the government.
Results: Bed-nets are considered indispensable during the rainy season and they are exclusively used for insect protection. Other methods of insect protection include the use of different varieties of smoke. Majority of the bed-nets in circulation are bought untreated and unsubsidised from local markets. Use of bed-nets in most areas is above 90% with many individuals sleeping under each net. Very remote rural areas, i.e. small islands, have limited access to markets and prices are high. These areas show much lower rates of bed-net use and need special attention in net distributions and measures to increase marketing.
Implications: The distribution structure of the Ministry of Public Health is an important resource. My research underlines the importance of assuring stable funding for the continuous ITNs distribution and re-treatment programs with long-term commitments in mind. The roughly hundred year history of the fight against the disease has shown that malaria cannot be eradicated with simple “magic solutions”. Different methods must be integrated to achieve results and the connection between malaria and poverty need to be addressed.
Key words: Malaria, ITNs, LLINs, bed-nets, distributions, Guinea-Bissau.
Objective: Gather information on mosquito prevention in Guinea-Bissau, especially the use of bed-nets, their origin and attitudes toward the nets. The research also explored environmental factors.
Methodology: The research was carried out in four coastal regions for three and a half months from August to mid-November 2007. Qualitative methods included open interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. Quantitative methods included standardised questionnaires as well as use of documents from health care officials. Official permission for the research was obtained from the government.
Results: Bed-nets are considered indispensable during the rainy season and they are exclusively used for insect protection. Other methods of insect protection include the use of different varieties of smoke. Majority of the bed-nets in circulation are bought untreated and unsubsidised from local markets. Use of bed-nets in most areas is above 90% with many individuals sleeping under each net. Very remote rural areas, i.e. small islands, have limited access to markets and prices are high. These areas show much lower rates of bed-net use and need special attention in net distributions and measures to increase marketing.
Implications: The distribution structure of the Ministry of Public Health is an important resource. My research underlines the importance of assuring stable funding for the continuous ITNs distribution and re-treatment programs with long-term commitments in mind. The roughly hundred year history of the fight against the disease has shown that malaria cannot be eradicated with simple “magic solutions”. Different methods must be integrated to achieve results and the connection between malaria and poverty need to be addressed.
Key words: Malaria, ITNs, LLINs, bed-nets, distributions, Guinea-Bissau.