BACKGROUND Arboviral diseases are major global public health threats. Yet, our understanding of infection risk factors is, with a few exceptions, considerably limited. A crucial shortcoming is the widespread use of analytical methods generally not suited for observational data--particularly null hypothesis-testing (NHT) and step-wise regression (SWR). Using Mayaro virus (MAYV) as a case study, ...

INTRODUCTION Larval source management has contributed to malaria decline over the past years. However, little is known about the impact of larval control practices undertaken at the household level on malaria transmission. METHODS The study was conducted in Kaya health district after the 2010 mass distribution of insecticide treated-nets and the initiation of malaria awareness campaigns in Bu...

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization recommends insecticidal bednets and intermittent preventive treatment to reduce malaria in pregnancy. Longitudinal data of malaria prevalence and pregnancy outcomes are valuable in gauging the impact of these antimalarial interventions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We recruited 8,131 women delivering in a single Malawian hospital over 9 years. We rec...

OBJECTIVE To lay the basis for planning an improved malaria control programme in Bungoma District, Kenya. METHODS By means of a cluster sample household survey an investigation was conducted into the home management of febrile children, the use of bednets, and attendance at antenatal clinics. FINDINGS Female carers provided information on 314 recently febrile children under 5 years of age, ...

Investments in one’s health require a comparison of the potential benefits and costs of providing either preventive or curative care. While preventive care lowers the probability of falling ill, and is often less costly than curative treatments, it does not provide full insurance against illness. An advantage of curative treatments, while more expensive, is that they do not requiring up-front i...