Net Gain: A New Method for Preventing Malaria Deaths

A finely spun net could prevent as many as one-third of all child deaths in Africa, reports IDRC's new publication, Net Gain. Studies conducted in Gambia, Ghana, and Kenya show that the insecticide-treated mosquito net reduced the mortality rate of children under 5 years of age by up to 63 percent.

Net Gain reviews and discusses the development of the treated mosquito net, focusing on the technology, its implementation, and its promotion.

The editors

Christian Lengeler is currently Senior Scientist in the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology of the Swiss Tropical Institute in Basel, Switzerland. He was previously a research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where he facilitated coordination of the net trial network.

Jacqueline Cattani is Manager of the Task Force on Insecticide-Impregnated Bednets and Other Materials with the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in Geneva, Switzerland.

Don de Savigny is Principal Health Specialist in the Program Branch of IDRC, where he manages health technology and intervention research.