Status of Indoor Residual Spraying by Deltamethrin in Malaria Elimination Program, Southeastern Iran

Iran is one of the countries implementing indoor residual spraying (IRS) for malaria control. Deltamethrin (DLT) is one of the insecticides recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) for this program. IRS is currently performed in Sistan and Baluchistan province as an area with unstable malaria situation and the highest prevalence of malaria in the country. DLT has been used since 2003 in this area. The purpose of this study is to determine IRS status of DLT in malaria elimination program in this province. In this cross-sectional study, data on workers, insecticide formulation, amount of used insecticide, the number of sprayed places, and spray coverage percent in a period of four years between 2008 and 2011 from six districts of the province were collected and analyzed. IRS was implemented by two DLT formulations (WP 5%, WG 25%) two rounds yearly. Mean of coverage percentage was 85.12±2.47 on fixed places and 95.87±2.47 for temporary places. On average, every worker sprayed in each round eight hours a day (non-continuously) by 6 to 8 pumps containing DLT at 625 to 780 mg-Lit concentration. Thus, workers were in contact with high daily doses of DLT mist. Health system must provide suitable equipment and logistics support for spraymen’s health. Also, training workers would certainly be effective. Instructing and explaining the important role of IRS in malaria prevention to households can be effective in spraying coverage augmentation.