Explain the gains achieved and the problems encountered with the use of insecticide-treated nets to control the spread of malaria

The two primary approaches to malaria control are transmission reduction and chemotherapy. Based on strong evidence that they reduce malaria transmission and related morbidity and child mortality, local and international organizations in Africa have been promoting and distributing insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) for more than two decades. Although this has resulted in greater ITN availability in sub-Saharan African countries, getting people to use ITNs correctly and consistently is difficult. Given the recognized gap between ITN ownership and use, designing effective strategies to promote use is critical, especially among children under 5 and pregnant women. In a recent attempt to inform the development of such strategies, Eisele and colleagues (2009 ) conducted an extensive review of standardized national surveys across 15 countries to document the factors associated with ITN use among these vulnerable groups. They concluded that there is increasing support for involving community health workers to go house to house to provide accurate information on malaria transmission, to explain how ITNs protect against malaria, and to help households hang their nets properly.?