Emerging properties of malaria transmission and persistence in urban Accra, Ghana: evidence from a participatory system approach

Abstract Background Several studies that aim to enhance the understanding of malaria transmission and persistence in urban settings failed to address its underlining complexity. This study aims at doing that by applying qualitative and participatory-based system analysis and mapping to elicit the system’s emergent properties. Methods In two experts’ workshops, the system was sketched and refined. This system was represented through a causal loop diagram, where the identification of leverage points was done using network analysis. Results 45 determinants interplaying through 56 linkages, and three subsystems: urbanization-related transmission, infection-prone behaviour and healthcare efficiency, and Plasmodium resistance were identified. Apart from the number of breeding sites and malaria-positive cases, other determinants such as drug prescription and the awareness of householders were identified by the network analysis as leverage points and emergent properties of the system of transmission and persistence of malaria. Conclusion Based on the findings, the ongoing efforts to control malaria, such as the use of insecticide-treated bed nets and larvicide applications should continue, and new ones focusing on the public awareness and malaria literacy of city dwellers should be included. The participatory approach strengthened the legitimacy of the recommendations and the co-learning of participants.

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Emerging properties of malaria transmission and persistence in urban Accra, Ghana: Evidence from a participatory system approach

10.21203/rs.3.rs-368653/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Merveille Koissi Koissi Savi ◽

Daniel Callo-Concha ◽

Henri E.Z. Tonnang ◽

Christian Borgemeister

Keyword(s):

Network Analysis ◽

Malaria Transmission ◽

System Analysis ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Drug Prescription ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Emergent Properties ◽

Breeding Sites ◽

Leverage Points ◽

Insecticide Treated Bed Nets

Abstract Several studies that aim to enhance the understanding of malaria transmission and persistence in urban settings failed to address its underlining complexity. We aim at doing that by applying a qualitative and participatory-based system analysis and mapping to elicit the system’s emergent properties. In two experts’ workshops, we sketched and refined the system, which was represented through a causal loop diagram, where the identification of leverage points was done using network analysis. We found 45 determinants interplaying through 56 linkages, and identified three subsystems: urbanization-related transmission, infection-prone behavior and healthcare efficiency, and Plasmodium resistance. Apart from the number of breeding sites and malaria positive cases, other determinants such as drug prescription and the awareness of householders were identified by the network analysis as leverage points and emergent properties of the system of transmission and persistence of malaria. Based on our findings, we suggest that ongoing efforts to control malaria, such as the use of insecticide-treated bed nets and larvicide applications should continue, and include new ones focusing on the public awareness and malaria literacy of city dwellers. We found that our participatory approach strengthened the legitimacy of the recommendations and the co-learning of participants.

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Predicting the impact of insecticide-treated bed nets on malaria transmission: the devil is in the detail

Malaria Journal ◽

10.1186/1475-2875-8-256 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Weidong Gu ◽

Robert J Novak

Keyword(s):

Malaria Transmission ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Insecticide Treated Bed Nets ◽

The Impact ◽

The Devil

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Control measures of malaria transmission in Rwanda based on SEIR SEI mathematical model

Rwanda Journal of Engineering Science Technology and Environment ◽

10.4314/rjeste.v4i1.9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Emmanuel Hakizimana ◽

Jean Marie Ntaganda

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Model ◽

Optimal Control ◽

Malaria Transmission ◽

Optimal Control Problems ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Control Measures ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Infected People ◽

Insecticide Treated Bed Nets ◽

Malaria Model

This research paper investigated the dynamics of malaria transmission in Rwanda using the nonlinear forces of infections which are included in SEIR-SEI mathematical model for human and mosquito populations. The mathematical modeling of malaria studies the interaction among the human and mosquito populations in controlling malaria transmission and eventually eliminating malaria infection. This work investigates the optimal control strategies for minimizing the rate of malaria transmission by applying three control variables through Caputo fractional derivative. The optimal control problems for malaria model found the control parameters which minimize infection. The numerical simulation showed that the number of exposed and infected people and mosquito population are decreased due to the control strategies. Finally, this work found out that the transmission of malaria in Rwanda can be minimized by using the combination of controls like Insecticide Treated bed Nets (ITNs), Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) and Artemisinin based Combination Therapies (ACTs).

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Low Malaria Transmission in Rosso, an Irrigated Rice-Growing Area in Mauritania

Parasitologia ◽

10.3390/parasitologia1040027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 257-268

Author(s):

Mohamed Aly Ould Lemrabott ◽

Khadijetou Mint Lekweiry ◽

Jemila Deida ◽

Oum Kelthoum Mamadou Djigo ◽

Mohamed Salem Ould Ahmedou Salem ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Malaria Transmission ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Entomological Surveillance ◽

High Coverage ◽

Travel History ◽

Breeding Sites ◽

Senegal River ◽

Behavioural Aspects

The construction of dams along the Senegal River resulted in an increase in irrigated land areas and changes in the epidemiology and transmission of water-related diseases. The objective of this study was to update epidemiological data on malaria in Rosso, one of the major Mauritanian cities along the Senegal River. Febrile patients (n = 318) were screened for malaria using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for malaria and microscopic examination of blood smears. Diagnosis was later confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mean age of 318 febrile patients was 25.1 (range 1–80 years). Only 7 (2.2%) and 2 (0.6%) had a positive RDT and thick smear, respectively. PCR confirmed the diagnosis in two Plasmodium vivax-infected patients. Most participants (198/318, 62.3%) had no recent travel history outside Rosso. The majority of the febrile patients (90%, 284/311) owned at least one insecticide-treated net (ITN). The frequency of the use of ITNs was not significantly associated with season (rainy vs. dry seasons; p = 0.9) or with the number of ITNs per household (rs = 0.07; n = 285; p = 0.19). Of 285 individuals with ITNs, only two (0.7%) with no travel history were PCR-positive for malaria. Despite the presence of mosquito breeding sites related to rice irrigation, malaria transmission in Rosso remained very low, possibly due to the high coverage and frequent use of bed nets. Regular entomological surveillance for possible changes in the prevalence of Anopheles mosquito species and their behavioural aspects should be implemented.

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