Abstract:

The aim of this study is to determine key factors affecting malaria interventions and control among communities in Ntambu Area of Mwinilunga District. An equal status sequential mixed methods design was adopted for this study. Three and fifty-eight respondents were enrolled from 109 villages as clusters using systematic sampling as well as purposeful sampling. Data was collected using a guided structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews. The findings are that social economic status, spray operator selection, and performance, negative experiences from previous IRS campaigns and political factors were negative factors whereas community solidarity was a positive factor for acceptance of IRS and ITNs. What can be inferred in this study is that the success of any malaria intervention in Ntambu area relies a lot on how the benefitting communities view and embrace the interventions. Individual factors like sex and level of education of household head are associated in varying ways with willingness to take up the interventions. This should be noted considering that level of education was associated with acceptance of IRS and yet not associated with repeat IRS as well as gender. The availability of antimalarial drugs, ITN, IRS acceptance and refusal in Ntambu, leave much to be desired. ITN use and availability appears to be the most accepted and easily available intervention though a few respondents appeared not to be aware or sure of what was happening in the area.

References:

[1].   Abilio AP, Marrune P, de Deus N, Mbofana F, Muianga P, Kampango A. (2015). Bio-efficacy of new long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets against Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae from central and northern Mozambique. Malar J. 14:352.

[2].   Basanvanthappa, BT. (2014). Nursing Research and Statistics (3rd Ed.). London.

[3].   Battle KE, et al. (2015). Global database of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax incidence records. Sci. Data.

[4].   Belvedere, V., Grando, A. (2005). Implementing a pull system in batch/mix process industry through Theory of Constraints: A case study, in.: (eds.) Ronen B. The Theory of Constraints. Practice and Research, Washington, DC: IOS Press.

[5].   Bhatt, S., et al., (2015). The effect of malaria control on Plasmodium falciparum in Africa between 2000 and 2015. Nature. 2015 October 8; 526(7572): 207–211.

[6].   Bridges DJ, Pollard D, Winters AM, Winters B, Sikaala C, Renn S, et al. (2018). Accuracy and impact of spatial aids based upon satellite enumeration to improve indoor residual spraying spatial coverage. Malar J. 17:93.

[7].   Buwate, C. et`al, (2016). Factors affecting adherence to National Malaria treatment guideline in management of malaria among public health care workers in Kamuli District Uganda, Publisher Biomed Central.

[8].   Carboni, J. (1995). A Rogerian process of inquiry. Nursing Science Quarterly, 8, 22-37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/089431849500800107. PMid:7877781.

[9].   Chaponda M and Mulenga M, (2014). Failure of malaria control in Nchelenge District, Zambia.

[10].  Chimberengwa PT, Masuka N, Gombe NT, Tshimanga M, Takundwa L, Bangure D. (2015). Indoor household residual spraying program performance in Matabeleland South province, Zimbabwe: 2011 to 2012; a descriptive cross-sectional study. Pan Afr Med J.20:27.

[11].  Chizema-Kawesha E, et al. (2010). Scaling up malaria control in Zambia: Progress and impact 2005-2008. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2010; 83:480–488.

[12].  Christine Marlow. (2001) Research Methods for Generalist Social work (3rd Ed.). USA.

[13].  Cox, J. and Schleier, J. (2010). Theory of Constraints. Handbook, New York, NY: McGraw Hill Professional.

[14].  Creswell, J. W., Plano Clark, V. L., Gutmann, M., & Hanson, W. (2003). Advanced mixed Research methods in social and behavioural research (pp. 209–240). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.