MalariaNCT00169117
A Stitch in Time May Save Lives: Turning Poor Bednets Into Good Ones
A study testing Songs/posters aimed at behaviour change in people with Malaria, run by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at 1 site in The Gambia.
Trial summary
Although the use of mosquito nets has increased in Africa, many of the nets used are in a poor state, and not an effective barrier against mosquitoes. This pilot study examines whether subsistence farmers in rural Africa can be encouraged to repair their mosquito nets and use their bednets appropriately. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Malaria
- What is being tested?
- Songs/posters aimed at behaviour change
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 772 participants
- Where
- 1 siteThe Gambia
- Study dates
- Jun 2002to Dec 2002
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Community consent
- Willingness to participate in study
Who cannot join
- None
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Although the use of mosquito nets has increased in Africa, many of the nets used are in a poor state, and not an effective barrier against mosquitoes. This pilot study examines whether subsistence farmers in rural Africa can be encouraged to repair their mosquito nets and use their bednets appropriately. Attitudes and practises on sewing and net use were examined in The Gambia and an intervention developed to promote net repair. Songs and posters were used to emphasise the importance of repairing nets and their correct use, and served as aural and visual reminders to repair nets now rather than postpone this household chore. The intervention was aimed at effectively and cheaply turning a poor net into a good one.
Read the detailed description
Sleeping under an insecticide-treated net protects the sleeper from mosquito bites and is highly effective means of reducing the risk of malaria. Recent studies in The Gambia and Kenya have shown that untreated bednets in good condition can also protect against malaria (51% protection against parasitaemia, 95% CIs 34-64%). However, most children in rural Gambia sleep under untreated nets in poor condition, often with a few holes, and do not close their nets properly at night. These children remain exposed to mosquito bites and the risk of malaria.
This pilot study examines whether subsistence farmers in rural Africa can be encouraged to repair their mosquito nets and use their bednets appropriately. Attitudes and practises on sewing and net use were examined in rural Gambia and an intervention developed to promote net repair. Songs and posters were used to emphasise the importance of repairing nets and their correct use, and served as aural and visual reminders to repair nets now rather than postpone this household chore. The intervention was aimed at effectively and cheaply turning a poor net into a good one.
The intervention was developed and implemented in two neighbouring villages in The Gambia, with each village composing their own songs. There was no formal control village. An internal comparison group was used in which the nets of responders and non-responders living within the same village were compared.The success of the intervention was assessed by: recording the number of nets repaired and used correctly for malarial prevention before and after the intervention; by counts of mosquitoes entering the nets classified according to number of holes and degree of repair; as well as by canvassing participants' opinions.
- Conditions
- Malaria
- Being tested
- Songs/posters aimed at behaviour change
- Keywords
- Mosquito nets, Malaria prevention, Songs, Posters, Net repair, Bednets
- Medical subject headings
- Malaria
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Songs/posters aimed at behaviour changeBehavioural
This was a behavioural intervention, using songs and posters composed/designed by community members which aimed at behaviour change to increase repair and maintenance of mosquito nets
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Experimental | Behavioural intervention: Songs/posters aimed at behaviour change to increase repair and maintenance of mosquito nets Receives: Behavioral: Songs/posters aimed at behaviour change |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of bednets repaired (pre- vs post intervention)
Measured: November 2003
Mean proportion of holes repaired/net (pre- vs post intervention)
Measured: November 2003
Reduction in mosquitoes with a good net compared with a poor one (pre-intervention survey).
Measured: November 2003
Reduction in mosquitoes with a good net compared with a repaired net (post-intervention survey)
Measured: November 2003
Secondary outcomes (1)
Community acceptability
Measured: November 2003
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Sep 2005 (estimated)
- Study startJun 2002
- Primary completionDec 2002
- Study completionDec 2002
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for MalariaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 772 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Durham, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Brian Greenwood, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Investigators
- Steven W Lindsay, PhD, Principal investigator, University of DurhamSian E Clarke, PhD, Principal investigator, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, UKCatherine Panter-Brick, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Durham
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00169117
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- DIF8
- Status last verified
- Jan 2017
- First submitted
- 13 Sep 2005
- Last updated
- 12 Jan 2017
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Lomas H, Panter-Brick C, Clarke S, Lindsay S, Pinder M & Walraven G. (2004). A community intervention to repair bed nets for malaria prevention in the Gambia [abstract]. Annals of Human Biology, 31(1): 116
Panter-Brick C, Clarke SE, Lomas H, Pinder M, Lindsay SW. Culturally compelling strategies for behaviour change: a social ecology model and case study in malaria prevention. Soc Sci Med. 2006 Jun;62(11):2810-25. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.10.009. Epub 2005 Dec 13.
PubMed 16352385
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Jan 2017. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Stitch in Time May Save Lives: Turning Poor Bednets Into Good Ones
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00169117
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DIF8
- Conditions
- Malaria
- Keywords
- Mosquito nets, Malaria prevention, Songs, Posters, Net repair, Bednets
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 772 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Durham, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia
- Study start
- Jun 2002
- Primary completion
- Dec 2002 (actual)
- Study completion
- Dec 2002 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Sep 2005 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Although the use of mosquito nets has increased in Africa, many of the nets used are in a poor state, and not an effective barrier against mosquitoes. This pilot study examines whether subsistence farmers in rural Africa can be encouraged to repair their mosquito nets and use their bednets appropriately. Attitudes and practises on sewing and net use were examined in The Gambia and an intervention developed to promote net repair. Songs and posters were used to emphasise the importance of repairing nets and their correct use, and served as aural and visual reminders to repair nets now rather than postpone this household chore. The intervention was aimed at effectively and cheaply turning a poor net into a good one.
Detailed description
Sleeping under an insecticide-treated net protects the sleeper from mosquito bites and is highly effective means of reducing the risk of malaria. Recent studies in The Gambia and Kenya have shown that untreated bednets in good condition can also protect against malaria (51% protection against parasitaemia, 95% CIs 34-64%). However, most children in rural Gambia sleep under untreated nets in poor condition, often with a few holes, and do not close their nets properly at night. These children remain exposed to mosquito bites and the risk of malaria.
This pilot study examines whether subsistence farmers in rural Africa can be encouraged to repair their mosquito nets and use their bednets appropriately. Attitudes and practises on sewing and net use were examined in rural Gambia and an intervention developed to promote net repair. Songs and posters were used to emphasise the importance of repairing nets and their correct use, and served as aural and visual reminders to repair nets now rather than postpone this household chore. The intervention was aimed at effectively and cheaply turning a poor net into a good one.
The intervention was developed and implemented in two neighbouring villages in The Gambia, with each village composing their own songs. There was no formal control village. An internal comparison group was used in which the nets of responders and non-responders living within the same village were compared.The success of the intervention was assessed by: recording the number of nets repaired and used correctly for malarial prevention before and after the intervention; by counts of mosquitoes entering the nets classified according to number of holes and degree of repair; as well as by canvassing participants' opinions.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Experimental | Behavioral: Songs/posters aimed at behaviour changeBehavioural intervention: Songs/posters aimed at behaviour change to increase repair and maintenance of mosquito nets |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Community consent
- Willingness to participate in study
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Songs/posters aimed at behaviour changeThis was a behavioural intervention, using songs and posters composed/designed by community members which aimed at behaviour change to increase repair and maintenance of mosquito nets | Behavioural | 1 |
Primary outcome
Number of bednets repaired (pre- vs post intervention)
Time frame: November 2003
Mean proportion of holes repaired/net (pre- vs post intervention)
Time frame: November 2003
Reduction in mosquitoes with a good net compared with a poor one (pre-intervention survey).
Time frame: November 2003
Reduction in mosquitoes with a good net compared with a repaired net (post-intervention survey)
Time frame: November 2003
1 secondary outcome
Community acceptability
Time frame: November 2003
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Jan 2017.
- BackgroundLomas H, Panter-Brick C, Clarke S, Lindsay S, Pinder M & Walraven G. (2004). A community intervention to repair bed nets for malaria prevention in the Gambia [abstract]. Annals of Human Biology, 31(1): 116
- Results publication: PubMed 16352385Panter-Brick C, Clarke SE, Lomas H, Pinder M, Lindsay SW. Culturally compelling strategies for behaviour change: a social ecology model and case study in malaria prevention. Soc Sci Med. 2006 Jun;62(11):2810-25. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.10.009. Epub 2005 Dec 13.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Steven W Lindsay, PhD principal investigator
University of Durham
Sian E Clarke, PhD principal investigator
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, UK
Catherine Panter-Brick, PhD principal investigator
University of Durham
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Songs/posters aimed at behaviour change in people with Malaria, run by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at 1 site in The Gambia.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Jan 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in The Gambia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of bednets repaired (pre- vs post intervention) (time frame: November 2003). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00169117, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Jan 2017.