TY  - JOUR
T1  - Reduction in the Burden of Malarial Anemia in Benin: Confirmation of an Anti-Vector Approach at the National Level
AU - Sangha, Jasbir K. AU - Johnson, Kiersten B. 
JO  - International Journal of Tropical Medicine
VL  - 4
IS  - 3
SP  - 104
EP  - 111
PY  - 2009
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1816-3319
DO  - ijtmed.2009.104.111
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=ijtmed.2009.104.111
KW  - Malaria
KW  -anemia
KW  -malarial anemia
KW  -Benin
KW  -mosquito net
KW  -insecticide treated bed nets
AB  - To assess the association between mosquito net use and the burden of malaria as proxied by severe anemia. We also attempt to discern the comparative validity of two proposed cut-offs (Hb &lt;8 and Hb &lt;7 g dL<SUP>-1</SUP>) for defining severe anemia. We use data from the nationally-representative Benin Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS) conducted in 2001 and 2006 to assess the use of mosquito nets and severe anemia in children 6-23 months of age. We find that use of mosquito nets among all children in Beninois households is associated with a &gt;40% reduction in the adjusted odds of being severely anemic for both survey years. The results of this analysis are equivocal on the question of whether &lt;7 or &lt;8 g dL<SUP>-1</SUP> is the more valid cut-off point to define severe anemia in the context of malaria. There is a clear association between mosquito net use and reduced burden of severe anemia: not only is there a decrease in the national prevalence of severe anemia at the same time that an increase in mosquito net use was observed, but analyses of individual-level data also indicate a strong negative association between mosquito net use and severe anemia. These findings provide additional support for the continued promotion of mosquito nets as an important anti-vector strategy in the fight against malaria.
ER  -