Long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets confer indirect protective effects against malaria in sub-Saharan Africa

The study evaluates the impact of community-level insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) on malaria incidence among children under five in sub-Saharan Africa, using data from Malaria Indicator Surveys conducted between 2009 and 2017. It analyzes the effects of various factors such as socioeconomic status and maternal education on malaria cases. Findings indicate that higher neighborhood ITN coverage significantly reduces malaria cases, with both direct and indirect protective effects observed, particularly in areas with 50-100% ITN coverage.