scholarly journals Trends in Malaria Epidemiological Factors Following the Implementation of Current Control Strategies in Dangassa, Mali

Author(s):  
Mahamoudou Toure ◽  
Moussa Keita ◽  
Fousseyni Kane ◽  
Daouda Sanogo ◽  
Salim Kante ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Over the past decade, three strategies have reduced severe malaria cases and deaths in endemic regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, specifically: 1] artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), 2] insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) , and 3] intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in pregnancy (IPTp. The rationale for this study was to examine communities in Dangassa, Mali where in 2015 two additional control strategies were implemented: ITN universal coverage and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) among children less than five years. Methods: This was a prospective study based on a rolling longitudinal cohort of 1,401 subjects participating in biannual smear surveys for the prevalence of asymptomatic P. falciparum infection and continuous surveillance for the incidence of human disease (uncomplicated malaria). Entomologic collections were performed to examine the intensity of transmission based on pyrethroid spray catches, human landing catches, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing for circumsporozoite antigen. Results: A total of 1,401 participants of all ages were enrolled in the study in 2012 after random sampling of households from the community census list. Prevalence of infection was extremely high in Dangassa varying from 9.5% to 62.8% at the start of the rainy season and from 15.1% to 66.7% at the end of the rainy season. Likewise, the number of vectors per house, biting rates, sporozoïtes rates and entomologic inoculation rates (EIR) were substantially greater in Dangassa. Discussion: The findings for this study are consistent with the progressive implementation of effective malaria control strategies in Dangassa. At baseline (2012-2014), prevalence of P. falciparum was above 60% followed by a significant year-to-year decease starting in 2015. Incidence of uncomplicated infected was greater among children < five years while asymptomatic infection was more frequent among the five to fourteen years old. A significant decrease in entomological inoculation rate was also observed from 2015 to 2020. Likewise, vectors’ density, sporozoïtes rates, and entomologic inoculation rates decrease substantially during the study period. Conclusion: Efficient Implementation of two main malaria prevention strategies in Dangassa substantially contribute to a reduction of both asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria in Dangassa from 2015 to 2020

Author(s):  
Bénédicte Apouey ◽  
Gabriel Picone ◽  
Joshua Wilde

Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease transmitted through the bites of female anopheline mosquitos infected with protozoan parasites. Malaria remains one of the major causes of mortality by infectious disease: in 2015, there were an estimated 212 million cases and 429,000 deaths globally, according to the 2016 World Malaria Report. Children under 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa bear the greatest burden of the disease worldwide. However, most of these cases could be prevented or treated. Several methods are highly effective in preventing malaria: in particular, sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net (ITN), indoor residual spraying (IRS), and taking intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women (IPTp). Regarding treatment, artesiminin-based combination therapy (ACT) is recommended as first-line treatment in many countries. Compared with other actions, malaria prevention behaviors have some specific features. In particular, they produce public health externalities. For example, bed net usage creates positive externalities since bed nets not only directly protect the user, but also reduce transmission probabilities through reduction in the number of disease hosts, and in the case of ITNs, reduction of the vector itself. In contrast, ACT uptake creates both positive externalities when individuals with malaria are treated, and negative externalities in the case of overtreatment that speeds up the spread of long-run parasite resistance. Moreover, ITNs, IPTp, and ACTs are experience goods (meaning individuals only ascertain their benefits upon usage), which implies that current preventive actions are linked to past preventive behaviors. Malaria prevention and eradication produce unambiguous benefits across various domains: economic conditions, educational outcomes, survival, fertility, and health. However, despite the high private returns to prevention, the adoption of antimalarial products and behaviors remains relatively low in malaria-affected areas. A variety of explanations have been proposed for low adoption rates, including financial constraints, high prices, and absence of information. While recent studies highlight that all of these factors play a role, the main barrier to adoption is probably financial constraints. This finding has implications regarding the appropriate pricing policy for these health products. In addition, there is a shortage of causally identified research on the effect of cultural and psychological barriers to the adoption of preventive behaviors. The literature which does exist is from a few randomized control trials of few individuals in very specific geographic and cultural contexts, and may not be generalizable. As a result, there are still ample opportunities for research on applying the insights of behavioral economics to malaria-preventive behavior in particular. Moreover, little research has been done on the supply side, such as whether free or heavily subsidized distribution of prevention technologies is fiscally sustainable; finding effective methods to solve logistical problems which lead to shortages and ineffective alternative treatments to fill the gap; or training sufficient healthcare workers to ensure smooth and effective delivery. Given these gaps in the literature, there are still multiple fruitful avenues for research which may have a first-order effect on reducing the prevalence of malaria in the developing world.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias O. Apinjoh ◽  
Judith K. Anchang-Kimbi ◽  
Regina N. Mugri ◽  
Clarisse Njua-Yafi ◽  
Rolland B. Tata ◽  
...  

Abstract Background.  Falciparum malaria is an important pediatric infectious disease that frequently affects pregnant women and alters infant morbidity. However, the impact of some prenatal and perinatal risk factors such as season and intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) on neonatal susceptibility has not been fully elucidated. Methods.  A cohort of 415 infants born to women who were positive and negative for malaria was monitored in a longitudinal study in Southwestern Cameroon. The clinical and malaria statuses were assessed throughout, whereas paired maternal-cord and 1-year-old antimalarial antibodies were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Infant susceptibility to malaria was ascertained after accounting for IPTp and season in the statistical analysis. Results.  Malaria prevalence was higher in women (P = .039) who delivered during the rainy season and their infants (P = .030) compared with their dry season counterparts. Infants born to women who were positive for malaria (6.40 ± 2.83 months) were older (P = .028) than their counterparts who were negative for malaria (5.52 ± 2.85 months) when they experienced their first malaria episode. Infants born in September–November (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.13–0.72) and to mothers on 1 or no IPTp-sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) dose (adjusted OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.28–0.91) were protected, whereas those born in the rainy season (adjusted OR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.21–6.55) were susceptible to malaria. Conclusions.  Intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy and month of birth have important implications for infant susceptibility to malaria, with 2 or more IPTp-SP dosage possibly reducing immunoglobulin M production.


F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Kesteman ◽  
Milijaona Randrianarivelojosia ◽  
Christophe Rogier

Background: Thanks to a considerable increase in funding, malaria control interventions (MCI) whose efficacy had been demonstrated by controlled trials have been largely scaled up during the last decade. Nevertheless, it was not systematically investigated whether this efficacy had been preserved once deployed on the field. Therefore, we sought the literature to assess the disparities between efficacy and effectiveness and the effort to measure the protective effectiveness (PE) of MCI. Methods: The PubMed database was searched for references with keywords related to malaria, to control interventions for prevention and to study designs that allow for the measure of the PE against parasitemia or against clinical outcomes. Results: Our search retrieved 1423 references, and 162 articles were included in the review. Publications were scarce before the year 2000 but dramatically increased afterwards. Bed nets was the MCI most studied (82.1%). The study design most used was a cross-sectional study (65.4%). Two thirds (67.3%) were conducted at the district level or below, and the majority (56.8%) included only children even if the MCI didn’t target only children. Not all studies demonstrated a significant PE from exposure to MCI: 60.6% of studies evaluating bed nets, 50.0% of those evaluating indoor residual spraying, and 4/8 showed an added PE of using both interventions as compared with one only; this proportion was 62.5% for intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women, and 20.0% for domestic use of insecticides. Conclusions: This review identified numerous local findings of low, non-significant PE –or even the absence of a protective effect provided by these MCIs. The identification of such failures in the effectiveness of MCIs advocates for the investigation of the causes of the problem found. Ideal evaluations of the PE of MCIs should incorporate both a large representativeness and an evaluation of the PE stratified by subpopulations.


Author(s):  
Clara Pons-Duran ◽  
Mireia Llach ◽  
Charfudin Sacoor ◽  
Sergi Sanz ◽  
Eusebio Macete ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is a key malaria prevention strategy in areas with moderate to high transmission. As part of the TIPTOP (Transforming IPT for Optimal Pregnancy) project, baseline information about IPTp coverage was collected in eight districts from four sub-Saharan countries: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mozambique and Nigeria. Methods Cross-sectional household surveys were conducted using a multistage cluster sampling design to estimate the coverage of IPTp and antenatal care attendance. Eligible participants were women of reproductive age who had ended a pregnancy in the 12 months preceding the interview and who had resided in the selected household during at least the past 4 months of pregnancy. Coverage was calculated using percentages and 95% confidence intervals. Results A total of 3911 women were interviewed from March to October 2018. Coverage of at least three doses of IPTp (IPTp3+) was 22% and 24% in DRC project districts; 23% and 12% in Madagascar districts; 11% and 16% in Nigeria local government areas; and 63% and 34% in Mozambique districts. In DRC, Madagascar and Nigeria, more than two-thirds of women attending at least four antenatal care visits during pregnancy received less than three doses of IPTp. Conclusions The IPTp3+ uptake in the survey districts was far from the universal coverage. However, one of the study districts in Mozambique showed a much higher coverage of IPTp3+ than the other areas, which was also higher than the 2018 average national coverage of 41%. The reasons for the high IPTp3+ coverage in this Mozambican district are unclear and require further study.


Author(s):  
T. Kasso ◽  
I. L. Oboro ◽  
O. Maduka ◽  
A. T. O. Awopeju ◽  
N. I. Paul ◽  
...  

Background: Malaria is a serious public health problem in developing countries with Africa bearing most of its burden. Pregnant women are more susceptible to malaria and it is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality/morbidity. Use of effective malaria preventive measures during pregnancy reduces its burden and complications. Aim: This was to determine malaria preventive practices used by pregnant women in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: It was a cross sectional study of pregnant women attending public and private health facilities in Akwa Ibom state. An informed written consent was obtained from the participants. Stratified sampling method was used in selecting the health facilities and the study participants. Information was obtained with pretested questionnaires by trained personnel with the aid of Open Data Kit (ODK) on android phones. Data was managed with SPSS 22.0 and P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were 935 participants in the study. Their mean age was 28.52 ± 5.09 years with 879 (94.0%) being married. Most had secondary and tertiary degrees: 451(48.2%) and 440(47.1%). Majority of them were traders/business women and self-employed (58.2%) while 7% were unemployed. Malaria preventive practices were use of window net, bed net and insecticides accounting for 659(71%), 447(48.2%) and 207(22.3%) respectively. There were 612 (65.5%) participants that received malaria drugs for prevention with 452(73.9%) receiving Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp) with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP). Only 296 (31.7%) of them slept under bed nets the night before the interview. Conclusion: Common preventive practices employed by pregnant women were IPTp with SP, window nets, ITNs and modified IRS. Majority of the women utilized widow nets, though not as effective as ITNs. Efforts should be intensified concerning awareness creation about the benefits of ITN use during pregnancy.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gertrude Nsorma Nyaaba ◽  
Atinuke O Olaleye ◽  
Mary O Obiyan ◽  
Oladapo Walker ◽  
Dilly OC Anumba

Abstract Background: Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) remains a key cause of poor maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Two key strategies globally promoted to address MiP require pregnant women in malaria-endemic regions to sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and take at least three doses of intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) during pregnancy. Particularly in the African region where weak health systems grapple with prevailing socio-cultural and traditional practices, several multilevel factors influence the effective uptake of these strategies. This study explores the factors for the poor uptake of IPTp and use of ITNs in lower socio-economic communities in Nigeria. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews (SSI) and focus group discussions (FGD) with a total of 201 key stakeholders in 6 communities in Ogun State, South-western Nigeria. Twelve SSIs were conducted with traditional birth attendants (TBAs), faith-based birth attendants and healthcare providers operating in public health facilities. Community leaders (7), pregnant women (30) and 20 caregivers were also individually interviewed. Sixteen FGDs were conducted with multi- and first- time pregnant women grouped by location and pregnancy experiences. A thematic approach were used for data analysis. Results: At the individual and social levels, there is high general awareness of MiP, its consequences and ITNs but a low awareness of IPTp, with type of antenatal care (ANC) provider being a key factor influencing access to IPTp. Choice of type of ANC provider, which facilitates access to IPTp and ITNs, is influenced by experiences of relatives with ANC providers, attitudes of ANC providers and community perceptions of the type of ANC providers. Concurrent use of multiple ANC providers and ANC providers’ relationships further influence acceptability and coverage for IPTp and ITN use. At the health sector level, there is low awareness about preventive malarial strategies including IPTp among TBAs and faith-based birth attendants, in contrast to high IPTp awareness among public healthcare providers. Conclusion: The findings highlight several factors that influence the utilisation of IPTp services and call for greater synergy and sensitisation between the three groups of healthcare providers towards improving access to and acceptability of IPTp for improving maternal and child outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Tsebeni Wafula ◽  
Hilbert Mendoza ◽  
Aisha Nalugya ◽  
David Musoke ◽  
Peter Waiswa

Abstract Background Consistent use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) have been recommended as cost-effective interventions for malaria prevention during pregnancy in endemic areas. However, the coverage of these interventions during pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa is still suboptimal. In this study, we investigated the uptake of IPTp and ITNs, and associated factors among women during their recent pregnancy in Eastern Uganda. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 2,062 women who had delivered within the last 12 months in three districts in Eastern Uganda. The primary outcomes were consistent ITN use and optimal uptake (at least 3 doses) of IPTp. A modified Poisson regression was used to examine the association between consistent ITN use and the uptake of optimal doses of IPTp with independent variables. Data were analyzed using Stata 14 software. Results The level of uptake of IPTp3 (at least three doses) was 14.7 %, while IPTp2 (at least two doses) was 60.0%. The majority (86.4%) of mothers reported regularly sleeping under mosquito nets for the full duration of pregnancy. Uptake of IPTp3 was associated with engaging in farming (adjusted PR = 1.71, 95% CI [1.28 – 2.28]) or business (adjusted PR = 1.60, 95% CI [1.05 – 2.44]), and attending at least 4 antenatal care (ANC) visits (adjusted PR = 1.72, 95%CI [1.34 – 2.22]). On the other hand, consistent ITN use was associated with belonging to the fourth wealth quintile (adjusted PR = 1.08, 95% CI [1.02 – 1.14]) or fifth wealth quintile (adjusted PR = 1.08, 95% CI [1.02- 1.15]), and attending at least 4 ANC visits (adjusted PR = 1.07, 95% CI [1.03- 1.11]). Conclusion Uptake of IPTp3 and consistent ITN use during pregnancy were lower than recommended guidelines, thus threatening the progress so far made towards malaria elimination. Our findings highlight the need for more efforts to enhance utilisation of ANC services, which is likely to increase the uptake of these two key malaria preventive measures during pregnancy.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Chifundo Azizi

Abstract Background: Malawi adopted the 2012 updated Word Health Organization (WHO) Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria during pregnancy with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) policy in 2013. This study aimed to estimate the proportion of and identify factors associated with the uptake of at least three doses of IPTp with SP among pregnant women in Malawi after the adoption and operationalisation of updated WHO IPTp-SP policy. Methods: The 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey dataset was analysed. Of 1,219 women aged 15-49 years who had live births and the children were born after the date of July 2015, 1,069 women were included in the analysis. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression were used in data analysis. The statistical analysis took into account a complex survey sample design. Results: Of the 1,069 women, 447 (42%, 95% CI: 38.1-45.6) received three (optimal) or more doses of IPTp-SP. Less than half (47%) managed to attend at least four antenatal care (ANC) clinics. Only 52% received optimal SP doses among those who made at least four ANC visits. Only the number of ANC visits was associated with the optimal uptake of SP. Women who attended ANC three times only and those who visited ANC once or twice only were less likely to receive at least three doses of SP than those who managed to attend ANC at least four times during pregnancy (AOR=0.71, 95% CI 0.49-1.02) and (AOR=0.12, 95% CI 0.06-0.21) respectively. Conclusions: To achieve effective malaria prevention in pregnancy, IPTP-SP is used alongside other interventions. However, there is low uptake of optimal SP doses in Malawi, and this seems to be associated with the number of ANC visits. Moreover, there is limited effectiveness of an increased number of ANC visits on the uptake of optimal SP doses. Further research should be done to explore health systems factors affecting uptake of optimal IPTp with SP doses during pregnancy.


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