Modeling ITNs usage: Optimal promotion programs versus pure voluntary adoptions

Abstract

We consider a mosquito-borne epidemic model, where the adoption by individuals of insecticide-treated bed-nets (ITNs) is taken into account. Motivated by the well documented strong influence of behavioral factors in ITNs usage, we propose a mathematical approach based on the idea of information-dependent epidemic models. We consider the feedback produced by the actions taken by individuals as a consequence of: (i) the information available on the status of the disease in the community where they live; (ii) an optimal health-promotion campaign aimed at encouraging people to use ITNs. The effects on the epidemic dynamics of each of these feedback are assessed and compared with the output of classical models. We show that behavioral changes of individuals may sensibly affect the epidemic dynamics.