Table 2.

Non-feasible ideal practices from public health and population perspective versus feasible compromise practices developed through small-scale household trials (TIPs)

Ideal practice (public health perspective)	Ideal practice (target population perspective)	Compromise practice through TIPs	Comments
Use standard ITN	Use untreated tocuyo net	Treat tocuyo net with insecticide	The compromise practice is not ideal from the public health perspective, because the insecticide is effective for less time than when impregnated into synthetic netting material. However, it is more effective than an untreated net, especially if insecticide is readily available and affordable to net owners.
		Use a netting fabric with a tighter weave (e.g., jersey cloth)	The compromise practice is not ideal from the net user's perspective, because jersey cloth nets provide less privacy than tocuyo. It is not ideal from the public health perspective, because the fabric is more expensive than 156-mesh polyester. However, it was warmer and offered better protection from smaller biting insects than 156-mesh polyester. It was also effective as a vector control measure for a greater length of time than tocuyo.
Use white ITN	Have a choice of colors	Have a single color attractive to most of the target population	White ITNs are cheaper than colored nets but show dirt more quickly; thus, they are likely to be washed more often and more aggressively. A colored net may last longer than a white net, because it is washed less frequently. It may also be used more frequently, because its attractiveness to the user helps compensate for its limited ability to protect privacy.
Wash net one to two times per year maximum	Wash net every 2 weeks	Wash net every 2 months	Trade off allows net user to maintain adequate hygiene while also prolonging insecticide viability.
Take net down daily and store in a dark place	Leave net hanging	Cover net with sheet or protect it in some more convenient way