Bibliographic information
Recommendation
Deployment of topical repellents for malaria prevention at the community level is not recommended; however, topical repellents may be beneficial as an intervention to provide personal protection against mosquito bites.
Recommended against
Conditional
Certainty of evidence
Low
Notes and Remarks
Remarks The panel recommended against the implementation of topical repellents with the aim of controlling malaria at the community level, given the lack of evidence of a significant impact. To achieve community-level impact, it is likely that a high level of individual compliance would be needed. Further work is required to separate out the potential protective effects at the individual and/or community level and therefore fully assess the potential public health value of topical repellents.
Also Featured In
This recommendation also appears in the following guidelines:
Guidelines for Malaria Vector Control
WHO guidelines for malaria, 16 February 2021.
WHO guidelines for malaria, 13 July 2021.
WHO guidelines for malaria, 18 February 2022.
WHO guidelines for malaria, 31 March 2022.
WHO guidelines for malaria, 25 November 2022.
WHO Guidelines for malaria, 14 March 2023