Factors affecting community participation in drone-based larviciding using Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) for bio-control of malaria vectors in Rwanda.

Background: Malaria remains a significant health issue in Rwanda. Primary malaria prevention methods include insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying as core interventions. Mosquito repellents, larval source management (LSM), and housing improvement are recommended as supplemental vector control methods. A 2020-2021 study in rice field habitats of peri-urban of Kigali City successfully evaluated the entomological and epidemiological impacts of drone-based larviciding using Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti).

Methods: The present study employed a concurrent mixed-methods design to assess community knowledge, perception, acceptance, and willingness to participate in drone-based larviciding for malaria control in Kigali City. A total of 248 respondents participated in the quantitative survey interviews while five focus group discussions (FGDs), each comprising 10-12 participants, were conducted. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS and R software, with logistic regression applied to identify factors influencing community participation. Qualitative data were manually coded and analysed thematically to complement the quantitative findings.

Results: Participants showed widespread knowledge of malaria transmission and prevention, with high awareness of the importance of larviciding. A strong support of 96.4% expressed willingness to accept drone-based larviciding, including financial and free labour support. Factors influencing willingness to participate include occupation in rice and vegetable farming and mining (95% CI - 3.053 to - 0.169, p = 0.029), mosquito exposure (95% CI - 5.706 to - 1.293, p = 0.004). Participants highlighted drone-based larviciding role in reducing mosquitoes and malaria risk and recommended it's scaling up as a core component of integrated vector management (IVM).

Conclusions: This study highlights strong community awareness and acceptance of drone-based larviciding, with its effectiveness in reducing mosquito abundance and malaria risks, along with the safety of Bti and drones. The findings advocate integrating drone-based larviciding into national malaria control strategies by enhancing community education, building local expertise, and adopting innovative financing mechanisms for scalability and sustainability.