Permethrin‑Treated Baby Wraps Cut Malaria in Uganda
A randomized controlled trial in rural western Uganda, led by researchers including Ross Boyce of UNC Chapel Hill and Edgar Mulogo of Mbarara University, found that permethrin‑soaked baby‑carrying wraps reduced malaria infections in children aged 6–18 months by about 65% over six months compared with water‑soaked wraps. The study enrolled 400 mother–baby pairs (200 per arm), provided all families new insecticide‑treated bed nets, tested children biweekly, and reported modest increases in mild rash in the treatment arm but no major safety signals during the trial.
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📌 Key Facts
- Study design: randomized controlled trial, 400 mother–baby pairs (200 permethrin‑treated wraps vs. 200 water‑soaked wraps) in rural western Uganda.
- Primary outcome: over 6 months, 34 malaria positives in the permethrin‑wrap group vs. 94 in the control group — ~65% relative reduction.
- Safety/operational notes: mild rash in 8.5% of treated babies vs. 6% in controls; researchers retreated wraps every 4 weeks during the trial and discuss feasibility of long‑lasting treated garments for clinic distribution.