Ecologically sustainable mosquito repellence using live Artemisia annua Linnaeus plants in boarding schools of MWEA rice irrigation scheme, Kenya

Abstract

Mosquitoes continue to transmit malaria despite the use of several methods of control such as treated bed nets, aerosols and repellent creams. Mosquito biting cause stress and medical problems to school going children. An experimental ecological study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of two months old potted Artemisia annua plants for mosquito repellence in boarding schools’ dormitories of Mwea Rice Irrigation Scheme, Kenya. Two months old potted live A.annua plants were hung next to doors and windows of dormitories and mosquito collection for four months as per WHO protocol was done. The study found significant differences in the mean mosquito catches in treatment dormitories in both girls and boys boarding schools p-values of 0.005, 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001 for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th months respectively. The study concluded that live A.annua reduced mosquito density in dormitories of boarding schools. Further there was reduction of mosquito density in neighbouring dormitories, as far as 50metres where A. annua was not introduced. The study recommends that A.annua would be very important for implementing vector control strategies to prevent man-vector contact for the prevention of vector borne diseases.The study recommends use of A.annua as vector control strategy to prevent man-vector contact for the prevention of vector borne diseases.