Bio-efficacy, user perception and acceptability of pyrethroid based mosquito coils in controlling Anopheles gambiae s.l., in some parts of Accra, Ghana

[Abstract]: This study was to provide baseline information on patterns of coil usage, user acceptability and susceptibility levels of mosquito coils in some parts of Accra, Ghana. Three hundred and twenty questionnaires were administered to obtain information on knowledge and perception of respondents on the usage of mosquito coils. Adult Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes were tested for resistance to pyrethroid based mosquito coils using WHO standard protocol for testing household insecticide products. A total of 152 out of 320 respondents were direct users of coils. Close to 62% of this number frequently changes brands of coil they use. Over 61% of coil users indicated their willingness to continue to use coils even though there are adverse effects after use. Anopheles gambiae s.s. was the only species that was found in the study area. Mortalities of An.gambiae s.s. after exposure to coils were 37% for Angel(R), 37.5% for Lord(R) and 15% for Heaven mosquito coil brands. More than half of the inhabitants in the area used coils to prevent mosquito bites. However, high levels of resistance was detected for all the three pyrethroid-based coils because West African kdr was detected in about 59% of samples of Anopheles gambiae s.s. that survived the exposure.