Despite some successes in malaria prevention in recent years, mainly through the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, there remains the need to protect against mosquito bites when outdoors. The other main interventions that help prevent mosquito bites involve applying topical repellents directly to the skin, wearing insecticide-treated clothing and using spatial repellents. A Cochrane systematic review has attempted to assess the effect of repellents on malaria transmission.1

The review included eight cluster randomised controlled trials (cRCTs) and two randomised controlled trials conducted in various malaria-endemic areas and among populations, including residents, …