All households in three zones in Zambia's Eastern Province were invited to attend a community point distribution of insecticide treated bed nets (ITNs). Households were then randomized to different intervals for a community health worker (CHW) hang-up visit.
Households were asked to attend a community point distribution of ITNs in one of three zones in Zambia's Eastern Province. Households that had been registered to receive ITNs were then randomized to one of five groups that received a CHW visit at different intervals. Group 1 was visited 1-3 days after distribution, group 2 was visited 5-7 days after, group 3 was visited 10-12 days after, group 4 was visited 15-17 days after, and group 5 did not receive a hang-up visit. Groups 1-4 were categorized as having received a hang-up visit and group 5 was categorized as not having received a hang-up visit. All households in all five groups were visited at 7-11 weeks after the distribution and again at 5-6 months after the distribution to assess short- and medium-term ITN retention and usage.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
560
Households were invited to a central location in their community (i.e. school, church, etc) where they received their allotment of ITNs (one per sleeping space, as pre-registered ahead of study activities). Households were provided with malaria prevention messaging at the distribution. They were called up one-by-one in front of other members of the community to mitigate misrepresentation of households.
CHWs visited households to take stock of how many ITNs that were distributed during the distribution were hung and to hang any unhung ITNs.
Community point distribution attendance
The percentage of pre-registered households that collected ITNs at the community point distributions on November 14, 19, and 21, 2013.
Time frame: At time 0
Self-installation of ITNs
The percentage of ITNs distributed to a household that the CHW found hanging at his/her visit.
Time frame: Each group is randomized to receive a community health worker visit after a different duration, an average of 7 days after the point distribution
Household ITN retention
The percentage of ITNs distributed to a household that were found still in the household at the 7-11 week follow-up.
Time frame: An average of 9 weeks after community point distribution
Household ITN retention
The percentage of ITNs distributed to a household that were found still in the household at the 5-6 month follow-up.
Time frame: An average of 5.5 months after community point distribution
Household percentage of ITNs hung
The percentage of ITNs distributed to a household that were found hanging during the 7-11 week follow-up.
Time frame: An average of 9 weeks after community point distribution
Household percentage of ITNs hung
The percentage of ITNs distributed to a household that were found hanging during the 5-6 month follow-up.
Time frame: An average of 5.5 months after community point distribution
Household percentage of sleeping spaces covered
The percentage of sleeping spaces in the household that were covered by an ITN distributed during the community point distribution at the 7-11 week follow-up.
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Time frame: An average of 9 weeks after community point distribution
Household percentage of sleeping spaces covered
The percentage of sleeping spaces in the household that were covered by an ITN distributed during the community point distribution at the 5-6 month follow-up.
Time frame: An average of 5.5 months after community point distribution