Insecticide Treated Polyethylene Sheeting for Prevention of Malaria in Emergencies

Summary

A Phase III malaria prevention trial was conducted in two camps of Liberian refugees in Sierra Leone using Insecticide Treated Polyethylene Sheeting (ITPS) or untreated polyethylene sheeting (UPS) randomly deployed to defined sectors of each camp. The ITPS was impregnated with pyrethroid insecticide during manufacture. In Largo camp the ITPS or UPS was attached to inner walls and ceilings of shelters, while in Tobanda the ITPS or UPS was used to line the ceiling and roof only. Cohorts of children up to 3 years of age were cleared of malaria parasites and monitored for up to 8 months post construction for possible malaria re-infection. Installation teams and refugee groups were blinded as to whether the sheeting was insecticide treated or not.

Conditions

• Malaria

Interventions

OTHER

Insecticide Treated Polyethylene Sheeting

Insecticide Treated Polyethylene Sheeting is based on the standard polyethylene sheeting that is issued routinely as temporary shelter for people affected by emergencies. During manufacture the pyrethroid insecticide, deltamethrin, is extruded with the polyethylene into three-ply laminated sheets, comprising an inner low-density laminate and two, outer high-density laminates. The insecticide release characteristics enable the deltamethrin to diffuse slowly to the outer surfaces and to become available for pick-up by any insect that lands on the surface.

OTHER

Untreated Plastic Sheeting

Standard polyethylene sheeting that is issued routinely as temporary shelter for people affected by emergencies. Standard untreated plastic sheeting is Identical to ITPS but without the incorporation of insecticide.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• ECHO

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• UNHCR Country Office Freetown

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• World Health Organization

  collaborator OTHER

• Wageningen University

  collaborator OTHER

• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

  collaborator OTHER

• National Malaria Control Programme Sierra Leone

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• The Mentor Initiative

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Matthew R Burns, BSc MSc PhD viva pending · Wageningen University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

4 Months

Max Age

36 Months

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2003-12-31

Primary Completion

2004-07-31

Completion

2004-07-31

Countries

• Sierra Leone

Study Locations