The impact of behaviour change communication on the use of insecticide treated nets: a secondary analysis of ten post-campaign surveys from Nigeria

Abstract Background School-based behaviour change communication interventions could help to achieve behavioural changes in the school and enhance the enrollment of the students and teachers as health messengers to local communities. Evidence on the impacts of the school-engaged malaria preventive interventions are limited as far as the social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) is concerned. This study examined the effectiveness of the school-based SBCC approach on insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) utilization among primary school students in malaria-endemic settings of Ethiopia. Methods Various participatory, educational, and communication interventions were implemented from 2017 to 2019 in 75 primary schools and respective villages in Jimma to promote malaria preventive practices. A quasi-experimental design was conducted with randomly selected 798 students (i.e. 399 intervention and 399 control groups). Data were collected by trained interviewers using structured questionnaires. The SPSS version 26 software was used to analyse the data. Propensity score matching analysis was performed to control for possible confounding biases. The average effects of the intervention were estimated using multivariate general linear modelling to estimate for mean differences and odds ratio based on the nature of data. Results The result showed that the ITNs utilization was 6.857 folds in the intervention groups compared to the counterpart; (OR = 6.857; 95% CI: (4.636, 10.1430); effect size = 39%). A mean differences (MD) of self-efficacy (MD = 15.34; 95% CI: 13.73 to 16.95), knowledge (MD = 5.83; 95% CI: 5.12 to 6.55), attitude (MD = 6.01; 95% CI: 5.26 to 6.77), perceived malaria risk (MD = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.53 to 2.76), and perceived family supports (MD = 6.39; 95% CI: 5.57 to 7.22) were observed favoring the intervention. Multivariable logistic regression modelling results showed that knowledge (β = 0.194, 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.35) and perceived family supports (β = 0.165, 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.25) and self-efficacy (β = 0.10, 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.32) predicted the ITN utilization among the school children. Conclusions The finding of this study suggested that the school-based SBCC approach combined with peer education activities advanced the malaria-related knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, risk perceptions, and family supports and ultimately improved the sustained use of ITNs among school-going children. Further research should be conducted to understand the mechanism of these effects given the influences of social, health services, and school systems are considered.

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Impact of COVID-19 on Malaria Elimination: Juxtaposing Indoor Residual Spraying and Mobile Phones in Buhera Rural District, Zimbabwe

10.21203/rs.3.rs-173130/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elliot Mbunge ◽

Richard Millham ◽

Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya ◽

Sam Takavarasha

Keyword(s):

Behaviour Change ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Malaria Control ◽

Malaria Elimination ◽

Indoor Residual Spraying ◽

Rural District ◽

Behaviour Change Communication ◽

Awareness Campaigns ◽

Change Communication ◽

The Impact

Abstract BackgroundGlobally, malaria remains one of the leading health problems decimating population in Africa with an estimated 228 million cases of malaria and 405 000 deaths occurred worldwide in 2018. In Zimbabwe, like other sub-Saharan countries, is fighting both elusive malaria and COVID-19 that continues to overwhelm the already overburdened healthcare system. Zimbabwean rural healthcare centres including Buhera district experience dire impact of malaria and COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the study presents the impact of COVID-19 on malaria control measures and reflects on indoor residual spraying (IRS) activities pre and post the outbreak of COVID-19 while introspecting milestones and challenges encountered when executing IRS activities; and opportunities to integrate mobile technologies into malaria elimination.MethodsA retrospective study of malaria cases and IRS reports was carried out. Malaria cases per each health centre from 2015-2020 were collected from DHIS in Buhera rural district.ResultsThe study shows that the overall IRS acceptance rate in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 was 100%, 58.5%, 66.6%, 52.8% and 83.3%, respectively. The absolute rooms sprayed in 2017 are 2.55% above those sprayed in 2016 but are 8.46% below those sprayed in 2015. The coverage failed to reach impact levels in most of the wards due but not lack of resources, limited to inadequate community sensitization, and competing programmes which were running concurrently with IRS. Also, the study revealed that malaria confirmed cases increased tremendously in 2020 as compared to the previous years, particularly from 2015-2019 because of delayed IRS coverage, COVID-19 restrictions, heavy rains, differed and inconsistent social and behaviour change communication, lack of community engagement, delayed procurement of equipment and lack of funding among others. ConclusionsThe study revealed that moving from malaria prevention to elimination is possible in low malaria incidence areas in Buhera rural district. However, new challenges including cyclones and COVID-19, disrupts of movements of medical equipment, delayed IRS activities, social and behaviour change communication and IEC campaigns and mandatory national lockdowns. It is therefore imperative to integrate mobile phones into malaria control strategies during COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen awareness campaigns while maintaining COVID-19 regulations.

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Effectiveness of the school-based social and behaviour change communication interventions on insecticide-treated nets utilization among primary school children in rural Ethiopia: a controlled quasi-experimental design

10.21203/rs.3.rs-18293/v3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fira Abamecha Ababulgu ◽

Morankar Sudhakar ◽

Lakew Abebe Gebretsadik ◽

Yohannes Kebede Lemu ◽

Guda Alemayehu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Behaviour Change ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Behaviour Change Communication ◽

Insecticide Treated Nets ◽

Change Communication ◽

School Based ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Family Supports ◽

Mean Differences ◽

Communication Interventions

Abstract BackgroundSchool-based behaviour change communication interventions could help to achieve behavioural changes in the school and enhance the enrollment of the students and teachers as health messengers to local communities. Evidence on the impacts of the school-engaged malaria preventive interventions are limited as far as the social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) is concerned. This study examined the effectiveness of the school-based SBCC approach on insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) utilization among primary school students in malaria-endemic settings of Ethiopia.MethodsVarious participatory, educational, and communication interventions were implemented from 2017 to 2019 in 75 primary schools and respective villages in Jimma to promote malaria preventive practices. A quasi-experimental design was conducted with randomly selected 798 students (i.e. 399 intervention and 399 control groups). Data were collected by trained interviewers using structured questionnaires. The SPSS version 26 software was used to analyse the data. Propensity score matching analysis was performed to control for possible confounding biases. The average effects of the intervention were estimated using multivariate general linear modelling to estimate for mean differences and odds ratio based on the nature of data.ResultsThe result showed that the ITNs utilization was 6.857 folds in the intervention groups compared to the counterpart; (OR=6.857; 95% CI: (4.636, 10.1430); effect size=39%). A mean differences (MD) of self-efficacy (MD=15.34; 95% CI: 13.73 to 16.95), knowledge (MD=5.83; 95% CI: 5.12 to 6.55), attitude (MD=6.01; 95% CI: 5.26 to 6.77), perceived malaria risk (MD=2.14; 95% CI: 1.53 to 2.76), and perceived family supports (MD=6.39; 95% CI: 5.57 to 7.22) were observed favoring the intervention. Multivariable logistic regression modelling results showed that knowledge (β=0.194, 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.35) and perceived family supports (β=0.165, 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.25) and self-efficacy (β=0.10, 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.32) predicted the ITN utilization among the school children.ConclusionThe finding of this study suggested that the school-based SBCC approach combined with peer education activities advanced the malaria-related knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, risk perceptions, and family supports and ultimately improved the sustained use of ITNs among school-going children. Further research should be conducted to understand the mechanism of these effects given the influences of social, health services, and school systems are considered.

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Use of the most significant change technique to evaluate intervention in promoting childbirth spacing in Nigeria

African Evaluation Journal ◽

10.4102/aej.v8i1.426 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Adolor Aisiri ◽

Babafunke Fagbemi ◽

Oluseyi A. Akintola ◽

Oluyemi S. Abodunrin ◽

Olajumoke Olarewaju ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Behaviour Change ◽

Cultural Beliefs ◽

Communication Intervention ◽

Behaviour Change Communication ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Change Communication ◽

Most Significant Change ◽

Significant Change ◽

The Impact ◽

North Western

Background: Childbirth spacing (CBS) or Family Planning (FP) methods are considered an essential component of sexual and reproductive health. It refers to the resting period between pregnancies that provides the mother with time to recuperate from pregnancy, labour and lactation. To evaluate the impact of these methods, a storytelling evaluation approach was used.Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of behaviour change communication intervention on demand and uptake of modern CBS methods.Method: Most significant change story technique was used to evaluate the outcome of behaviour change communication intervention in two north-western Nigerian states. Impact story template was used to collate 57 stories from the field through group discussions and in-depth interviews with women of reproductive age. Transcripts from the group discussions and interviews were analysed using qualitative analytical software.Results: One story was unanimously selected. The story was about a married 15-year-old with a history of three pregnancies and two live births, who suffered pregnancy complications and miscarriage during her last pregnancy. She had learnt about CBS methods through the community volunteers working on the social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) intervention. As a result, her husband and mother-in-law were convinced and agreed that she take up a modern FP or CBS method from the primary health facility in the community. She eventually took an implant method.Conclusion: Acceptance and uptake of modern CBS methods in north-western Nigeria has been low, and this is largely because of myths and misconceptions, and religious and cultural beliefs amongst others.

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Impact of COVID-19 on Malaria Elimination: Juxtaposing Indoor Residual Spraying and Mobile Phones in Buhera Rural District, Zimbabwe

10.21203/rs.3.rs-173130/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elliot Mbunge ◽

Richard Millham ◽

Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya ◽

Sam Takavarasha

Keyword(s):

Behaviour Change ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Malaria Control ◽

Malaria Elimination ◽

Indoor Residual Spraying ◽

Rural District ◽

Behaviour Change Communication ◽

Awareness Campaigns ◽

Change Communication ◽

The Impact

Abstract BackgroundGlobally, malaria remains one of the leading health problems decimating population in Africa with an estimated 228 million cases of malaria and 405 000 deaths occurred worldwide in 2018. In Zimbabwe, like other sub-Saharan countries, is fighting both elusive malaria and COVID-19 that continues to overwhelm the already overburdened healthcare system. Zimbabwean rural healthcare centres including Buhera district experience dire impact of malaria and COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the study presents the impact of COVID-19 on malaria control measures and reflects on indoor residual spraying (IRS) activities pre and post the outbreak of COVID-19 while introspecting milestones and challenges encountered when executing IRS activities; and opportunities to integrate mobile technologies into malaria elimination.MethodsA retrospective study of malaria cases and IRS reports was carried out. Malaria cases per each health centre from 2015-2020 were collected from DHIS in Buhera rural district.ResultsThe study shows that the overall IRS acceptance rate in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 was 100%, 58.5%, 66.6%, 52.8% and 83.3%, respectively. The absolute rooms sprayed in 2017 are 2.55% above those sprayed in 2016 but are 8.46% below those sprayed in 2015. The coverage failed to reach impact levels in most of the wards due but not lack of resources, limited to inadequate community sensitization, and competing programmes which were running concurrently with IRS. Also, the study revealed that malaria confirmed cases increased tremendously in 2020 as compared to the previous years, particularly from 2015-2019 because of delayed IRS coverage, COVID-19 restrictions, heavy rains, differed and inconsistent social and behaviour change communication, lack of community engagement, delayed procurement of equipment and lack of funding among others. ConclusionsThe study revealed that moving from malaria prevention to elimination is possible in low malaria incidence areas in Buhera rural district. However, new challenges including cyclones and COVID-19, disrupts of movements of medical equipment, delayed IRS activities, social and behaviour change communication and IEC campaigns and mandatory national lockdowns. It is therefore imperative to integrate mobile phones into malaria control strategies during COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen awareness campaigns while maintaining COVID-19 regulations.

Download Full-text