Malaria Journal
Volume 15, Issue 1, 2016

Targeting populations at higher risk for malaria: A survey of national malaria elimination programmes in the Asia Pacific (Article) (Open Access)

Wen S. , Harvard K.E.* , Gueye C.S. , Canavati S.E. , Chancellor A. , Ahmed B.-N. , Leaburi J. , Lek D. , Namgay R. , Surya A. , Thakur G.D. , Whittaker M.A. , Gosling R.D.
  • a Global Health Group, University of California, 550 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
  • b Global Health Group, University of California, 550 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
  • c Global Health Group, University of California, 550 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
  • d Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
  • e University of Queensland School of Public Health, Public Health Building (887), Herston Rd, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
  • f Department of Microbiology, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • g National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands
  • h National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Ministry of Health, Corner street 92, Trapaing Svay village, Sankat Phnom Penh Thmey, Khan Sensok, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
  • i Vector-borne Disease Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Gelephu, Bhutan
  • j National Malaria Control Programme, Directorate General of Disease Control and Environment Health, Ministry of Health, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • k Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Ministry of Health and Population, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • l College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
  • m Global Health Group, University of California, 550 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States

Abstract

Background: Significant progress has been made in reducing the malaria burden in the Asia Pacific region, which is aggressively pursuing a 2030 regional elimination goal. Moving from malaria control to elimination requires National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCPs) to target interventions at populations at higher risk, who are often not reached by health services, highly mobile and difficult to test, treat, and track with routine measures, and if undiagnosed, can maintain parasite reservoirs and contribute to ongoing transmission. Methods: A qualitative, free-text questionnaire was developed and disseminated among 17 of the 18 partner countries of the Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network (APMEN). Results: All 14 countries that responded to the survey identified key populations at higher risk of malaria in their respective countries. Thirteen countries engage in the dissemination of malaria-related Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials. Eight countries engage in diagnostic screening, including of mobile and migrant workers, military staff, and/or overseas workers. Ten countries reported distributing or recommending the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) among populations at higher risk with fewer countries engaging in other prevention measures such as indoor residual spraying (IRS) (two countries), spatial repellents (four countries), chemoprophylaxis (five countries), and mass drug administration (MDA) (three countries). Though not specifically tailored to populations at higher risk, 11 countries reported using mass blood surveys as a surveillance tool and ten countries map case data. Most NMCPs lack a monitoring and evaluation structure. Conclusion: Countries in the Asia Pacific have identified populations at higher risk and targeted interventions to these groups but there is limited information on the effectiveness of these interventions. Platforms like APMEN offer the opportunity for the sharing of protocols and lessons learned related to finding, targeting and successfully clearing malaria from populations at higher risk. The sharing of programme data across borders may further strengthen national and regional efforts to eliminate malaria. This exchange of real-life experience is invaluable to NMCPs when scarce scientific evidence on the topic exists to aid decision-making and can further support NMCPs to develop strategies that will deliver a malaria-free Asia Pacific by 2030. © 2016 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Migrant populations Asia Pacific High-risk populations Malaria elimination Mobile populations Populations at higher risk Hard-to-reach populations

Index Keywords

education information dissemination health care survey mass screening interpersonal communication human work environment Asia Malaria malaria control international cooperation disease eradication overseas worker indoor residual spraying Asia Pacific geographic names Surveys and Questionnaires disease surveillance migrant worker health program Humans worker health services research male female risk factor Risk Factors Pacific islands communicable disease control qualitative analysis Disease Transmission, Infectious questionnaire high risk population evaluation study prevention and control blood examination Article disease transmission organization and management infection risk monitoring insecticide treated net soldier
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84969286790&doi=10.1186%2fs12936-016-1319-1&partnerID=40&md5=3b0c37de6bee52e039eb2ac3ceacd818
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1319-1
ISSN: 14752875
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English