Evaluation of Thermal Fog Generators Standards for Aedes Mosquitoes Control in Sikhoraphum District, Surin Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to evaluate the standard of thermal fog generators for controlling adult mosquitoes in Sikhoraphum district, Surin province. The study population included all thermal fog generators used in 15 sub-districts. A total of 35 thermal fog generators that met the inclusion criteria were selected as the study sample. Data were collected in four aspects: nozzle temperature, chemical flow rate, droplet size, and droplet uniformity, during 2023 to 2024. The instruments used in this study included a temperature measuring device, a flow rate measuring device, a droplet size measuring device, a machine inspection checklist, and a performance evaluation form. Descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, were used to analyze the data. The results were interpreted according to the WHO standards. The findings showed that thermal fog generators met the WHO standard criteria for nozzle temperature, chemical flow rate, droplet size, and droplet uniformity at rates of 94.29%, 82.86%, 45.71%, and 100.00% respectively. However, only 31.43% of thermal fog generators met all four criteria simultaneously. Notably, thermal fog generators had the lowest compliance rate in terms of droplet size, which is a key parameter for evaluating the performance of thermal fog generators. Inadequate droplet size reduces the likelihood of insecticide droplets coming into contact with mosquitoes. Therefore, to improve the effectiveness of thermal fog generators in mosquito control, responsible organizations must implement an annual schedule for equipment maintenance and performance validation. Furthermore, comprehensive training should be administered to all operating personnel.