Assessing the Effect of a Combined Malaria Prevention Education and Free Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets Program on Self-Reported Malaria Among Children in a Conflict-Affected Setting in Northern Uganda

Abstract

We examine whether a concerted malaria prevention education effort is associated with reduced malaria disease burden among children under the age of 5 years residing in conflict-affected settings in Northern Uganda. Two camps for internally displaced persons were identified in the Lira District of Northern Uganda. All residents in both camps were given free insecticide treated nets (ITNs), along with basic information on installation and use. In one camp, Ogur, an intense malaria prevention education intervention through community meetings, household visits, and posters was administered to camp residents for a 6-month period by trained community health care workers who were also camp residents. The residents of Ogur camp also received assistance in hanging their ITNs as needed from the resident community health workers. In the other camp, Abia, no additional health education intervention was provided after the ITN distribution. After 6 months, a survey was conducted among a cross-section of respondents from each camp. The results from this survey show significantly lower rates of reported malaria among children under 5 years in the intervention camp (Ogur) compared with children in the reference camp (adj. RR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.91). This suggests that including enhanced malaria prevention education as an integral component of ITN distribution programs could help promote the use of malaria prevention methods and help stem malaria infections.

Effect of Health Education on Knowledge Attitude Practice towards Malaria among Basic Schools Pupils in Taiz

“…In our study the positive change toward malaria prevention in the intervention group obtained that the percent of pupils who own BN increased with statistical significant difference to (16.8%), compared with (12.1%) in the non-intervention group, Regarding to using of BN the sleeping under BN was higher (72.1%) in the intervention group compared to (62%) in the non-intervention group with statistical significant difference. This is in agreement with the study conducted in Uganda [32]. Where the sleeping under bed net increased to (99%) in the intervention group compared to (93.6%) in the non-intervention group, and it showed a significantly higher proportion of respondents in the intervention group reported use of effective malaria prevention methods (BN, insecticide spray and coils) in their house hold (73.8%) compared with respondents in the non-intervention group (59.6%) (P = 0.037) [32].…”

“…This is in agreement with the study conducted in Uganda [32]. Where the sleeping under bed net increased to (99%) in the intervention group compared to (93.6%) in the non-intervention group, and it showed a significantly higher proportion of respondents in the intervention group reported use of effective malaria prevention methods (BN, insecticide spray and coils) in their house hold (73.8%) compared with respondents in the non-intervention group (59.6%) (P = 0.037) [32].…”