Evaluation of the protective efficacy of a spatial repellent to reduce malaria incidence in children in Mali compared to placebo

Spatial repellents, which are used to prevent mosquito bites, have not been evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing mosquito-borne diseases in Africa. However, they have the potential to be useful in preventing these diseases in situations where traditional vector control methods, such as insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spray, are not accessible or underutilized, such as in emergency relief settings or among displaced populations. The Mosquito Shield™, a spatial repellent that incorporates transfluthrin on a plastic sheet, is being tested for its impact on malaria-related outcomes in Kolondieba District, Sikasso Region, Mali. This region has a high annual parasite incidence and a high prevalence rate of Plasmodium falciparum, a parasite that causes malaria.