A study in Kenya looked at how many people use bed nets to sleep under if they have to buy them, versus how many use them if they’re subsidized, or even free. Researchers found that 44% fewer children died after more insecticide-treated mosquito nets were distributed.

The research, carried out in four districts in Kenya, tried out four different ways of distributing nets and how many children aged 0-4 years slept under nets.

Researchers found that when people had to buy nets, only 7.1% of children were using them.  When the nets were heavily subsidized, the usage rose to 23.5%, and when they were free, usage shot up to 67.3%.

A study in Tanzania, published in July, showed that if 35–65% of older children and adults also use nets, then younger children and pregnant women are also better protected — both individuals in the same household and members of the surrounding community.

The WHO used to focus on distributing nets to on young children and pregnant women but it now advocates mass distribution of free or highly subsidized insecticide-treated nets to protect entire communities, with young children and pregnant mothers, most at risk from contracting malaria, a priority.

Tanzanian research carried out by Gerry Killeen and colleagues from the Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre in Tanzania and published in the journal PLoS Medicine 3 July 2007.
Kenyan research carried out by Kenya Medical Research Institute and published in PLoS Medicine 20 August 2007.