Trends in retail sales of insecticide-treated nets and untreated nets in Tanzania: cross-section surveys

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Benjamin Kamala, Deo Mwingizi, David Dadi, Dana Loll, Peter Gitanya, Charles Mwalimu, Frank Chacky, Stella Kajange, Sara Malima, Mwinyi Khamis, Raya Ibrahim, Naomi Serbantez, Lulu Msangi, Hannah Koenker
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2023
• Subjects: Insecticide-treated net; Counterfeit; Retail survey; Leaked nets; Commercial sector; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04726-9; https://doaj.org/article/ee366eb8571746d1b638cb3e0b39d908

Abstract Background The commercial sector plays a vital role in mosquito net ownership and access in Tanzania. The National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) includes long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) delivery through the commercial sector as a complementary mechanism. The NMSP aims to increase LLIN sales while decreasing untreated mosquito net sales. This survey aimed to track quantities, market share of different net categories, prices, and origins of mosquito nets in retail markets and to engage stakeholders to analyse market trends. Methods This mixed-method mosquito net retail outlet survey was conducted in mid-2021 in six and in mid-2022 in eight regions. Field teams identified net-selling outlets in major urban and peri-urban markets and used snowball sampling to identify additional outlets. A structured questionnaire was used, and photos of available mosquito net products were taken. Key informant interviews were conducted with wholesalers and retailers. The relative market share of a product was calculated by using the mean of each sales category as frequency weights. Qualitative data analysis was undertaken by summarizing common themes and observations based on the research question. Results A total of 394 and 1139 outlets were surveyed in 2021 and 2022, respectively. More than 96% of distributed brands in both years were untreated nets. The market share for untreated mosquito nets was 99.2% in 2021 and 88.3% in 2022. Bed net sales were seasonal, peaking in the rainy season and at the start of the school year. Leaked LLINs from the public sector comprised 0.3% of the market share in 2021 and 8.3% in 2022. Kigoma markets had the most significant frequency of leaked LLIN products. Legitimate LLINs were rare in 2021 (n = 2) and not found in 2022, despite the presence of a local LLIN manufacturer. A small number (n = 3) of untreated nets fabricated in China claiming to be LLINs were observed in 2022. Conclusions Despite NMCP’s strategic approach to increasing retail market share for legitimate LLINs, ...