Rainy Season Timing Doubles Malaria Net Use in Nigeria

A breakthrough study in Nigeria has found a surprisingly simple way to save more lives from malaria: give people mosquito nets when they actually want to use them.

Researchers from Malaria Consortium studied thousands of households in Ondo state, Nigeria between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that people used their insecticide-treated nets far more during the rainy season than in hot, dry months.

The reason makes perfect sense. When it's scorching hot, people skip the nets because they feel too warm under them. When rain falls and mosquitoes swarm, families instinctively protect themselves by sleeping under the nets.

Dr. Tarekegn Abeku, who led the research team, found this pattern held true across different communities and survey periods. His team published their findings in Malaria Journal, giving malaria programs worldwide a practical tool to boost protection rates.

The challenge has always been getting people to use the nets they already own. Even when families have nets hanging in their homes, usage drops by half during hot seasons. People also skip nets when they don't see mosquitoes buzzing around, underestimating their malaria risk.

The Ripple Effect

This discovery is already changing how health programs operate across Africa. National malaria programs can now schedule their distribution campaigns to match the start of rainy seasons, when motivation peaks and transmission risk climbs highest.

The timing shift means evaluation surveys will capture more accurate data about how well the nets work. Health workers can also tailor their messages to match the seasons, reminding families why nets matter even on hot nights.

Malaria Consortium is expanding this work through their Behavioural Insights to Accelerate Net Use project in Nigeria and Uganda. The team is exploring what other barriers keep families from using nets, applying behavioral science to close the gap between owning nets and sleeping under them.

The implications reach beyond distribution schedules. As climate patterns shift worldwide, understanding how weather influences health behaviors becomes critical for saving lives. What works in one season might fail in another, and programs that adapt to these rhythms will protect more people.

Every percentage point increase in net usage translates to fewer children and families getting sick. By working with nature's patterns instead of against them, health workers can turn existing tools into more powerful shields against a disease that still threatens millions across Africa.