The Impacts of Mosquito Nets on Child Malaria Incidence in Timor-Leste

Abstract

An effective malaria prevention strategy is crucial for improving child health outcomes and reducing the disease burden within communities. This study assessed the effectiveness of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) in reducing malaria incidence among children. The analysis used data from the 2014 Living Standards Survey in Timor-Leste and employed the instrumental variable (IV) method. The results show that each additional ITN increases the probability of net usage by 0.037 and reduces the probability of malaria incidence in children by 0.045. The findings emphasize the importance of expanding ITN distribution in malaria-endemic regions. By addressing the limited evidence on ITN effectiveness in developing Asian countries such as Timor-Leste, this research offers valuable insights for policymakers aiming to ensure sustainable and universal access to malaria prevention tools