Study to Test Methods for Controlling Aedes Mosquitoes and Preventing Aedes-borne Diseases in Kinshasa

What this Trial Is About

Arboviral diseases, spread by Aedes mosquitoes, are a growing public health concern worldwide, especially in Africa where data is limited. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including Kinshasa, outbreaks of yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika have occurred, with transmission levels exceeding World Health Organization standards. This research aims to test and evaluate various methods to control Aedes mosquitoes at different life stages in Kinshasa to better understand and reduce the spread of these diseases. The study is a before-and-after interventional trial conducted in the Mont Ngafula 1 health zone of Kinshasa. It includes four groups one practicing community-based environmental management alone, one combining this with larvicidal control targeting immature mosquitoes using pyriproxifen-based stations, one combining environmental management with adult mosquito control using mass trapping with BG-GAT traps, and a control group without interventions. Each group involves 400 households, with interventions lasting 12 months. Entomological surveys are carried out in a subset of households before, during, and after the interventions to measure mosquito density and viral presence. Participants will also take part in a serological survey for arboviral diseases and complete questionnaires assessing knowledge and practices related to mosquito control before and after interventions. The study measures include mosquito collection counts, larval surveys, and epidemiological indicators, with safety and progress monitored throughout. Data collected will help evaluate the feasibility and impact of these vector control strategies and improve understanding of disease exposure and community awareness in the area.

Implementation and Evaluation of Vector Control Methods in Kinshasa: The Case of Aedes