Marked Increase in Child Survival after Four Years of Intensive Malaria Control

Abstract

In malaria-endemic countries in Africa, a large proportion of child deaths are directly or indirectly attributable to infection with Plasmodium falciparum. Four years after high coverage, multiple malaria control interventions were introduced on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, changes in infection with malarial parasites, anemia, and fever history in children were estimated and assessed in relation to changes in all-cause under-5 mortality. There were reductions in prevalence of infection (odds ratio [OR] = 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.2-0.46), anemia (OR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.07-0.18), and reported fevers (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.22-0.76) in children. Under-5 mortality fell from 152 per 1,000 births (95% CI = 122-186) to 55 per 1,000 (95% CI = 38-77; hazard ratio = 0.34 [95% CI = 0.23-0.49]). Effective malaria control measures can dramatically increase child survival and play a key role in achieving millennium development goals.

Malaria Household Knowledge and Behavior in Equatorial Guinea: Lessons to Be Learned

“…The Bioko respondents were also younger, had a higher educational level, and acceptance of the BIMC Programme launched in 2004 and its rapid malaria prevalence reduction in the first two years [22], and it is consistent with observations in other endemic areas of Africa [23][24][25][26].…”

Reduction of Malaria Prevalence by Indoor Residual Spraying: A Meta-Regression Analysis

“…Six of these studies reported the effect of integrated vector management (such as combined use of IRS and ITNs) or combined introduction of preventative and treatment methods (such as IRS and rapid diagnostic tests) in a way that it was not possible to attribute a proportion of the change to a single intervention. [24][25][26][27][28][29] Three studies did not measure human health outcomes. [30][31][32] Two studies did not measure a change caused by IRS but rather established a baseline prevalence rate 33 or a change over time after termination of IRS.…”

International population movements and regional Plasmodium falciparum malaria elimination strategies

“…eradication | migration | network analysis | imported malaria | community detection S ignificant progress is being made in reducing the morbidity and mortality attributed to malaria globally (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10), encouraging the Global Malaria Action Plan (GMAP) (11) to articulate a long-term vision for malaria eradication through shorter-term local efforts to eliminate malaria. A total of 34 of the 107 malaria endemic countries have declared they have a national policy for malaria elimination or are pursuing spatially progressive elimination within their borders (11)(12)(13).…”