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

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.

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

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.

scholarly journals Development of behaviour change communication strategy for a vaccination-linked malaria control tool in southern Tanzania

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adiel K Mushi ◽  
Joanna Schellenberg ◽  
Mwifadhi Mrisho ◽  
Fatuma Manzi ◽  
Conrad Mbuya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Malaria Control ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Behaviour Change Communication ◽  
Change Communication ◽  
Control Tool

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

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document