COMMUNITY ADHERENCE TO MALARIA SPRAYING, MOZAMBIQUE

Thursday, 29th of December 2011

COMMUNITY ADHERENCE TO SPRAYING, MOZAMBIQUE

What drives community adherence to indoor residual spraying (IRS) against malaria in Manhica district, rural Mozambique: a qualitative study

Khatia Munguambe, Robert Pool, Catherine Montgomery, Carlos Bavo, Ariel Nhacolo, Lina Fiosse, Charfudin Sacoor, Delino Nhalungo, Samuel Mabunda, Eusebio Macete and Pedro Alonso

Malaria Journal 2011, 10:344 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-10-344

Published: 23 November 2011

Abstract (provisional)

Background

Malaria control remains a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) reinforced the recommendation of indoor residual spraying (IRS) with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) to reduce malaria transmission. The National Malaria Control Programme has been reporting high coverage rates of IRS in Mozambique. It is important to establish to what extent these rates are a reflection of community acceptability, and to explore the factors associated with adherence, in order to recommend suitable approaches for interventions of this nature.

Objective

To understand the implementation process, reception and acceptability of the IRS program in Manhica district, Southern Mozambique.

Methods

Qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation of IRS activities, informal interviews, and focus group discussions. Study participants comprised householders, community leaders, health care providers, sprayers, and community members. Qualitative data analysis was based on grounded theory. Secondary data from the Manhica Demographic Surveillance System was used to complement the qualitative data.

Results

IRS was well received in most neighbourhoods. The overall coverage rates varied between 29% and 41% throughout the study period. The factors related to adherence to IRS were: immediate impact on insects in general, trust and obedience in the health authority, community leaders' influence, and acquaintance with the sprayers. Fighting malaria was not an important motivation for IRS adherence. There was a perception of limited efficacy of IRS against mosquitoes, but this did not affect adherence. Non-adherence to the intervention was mainly due to the unavailability of key householders, disagreement with the procedures, and the perception that spraying increased the burden of insects. Most respondents strongly favoured bed nets over IRS.

Conclusion

The study suggests that the contribution of IRS to malaria and mosquito control is not entirely perceived by the beneficiaries, and that other as cost effective interventions such as insecticide-treated nets are favoured over IRS. Adherence to IRS was found to be influenced by socio-political factors. There is a need to redefine the community sensitization approaches in order to make IRS a genuinely participative, acceptable, and sustainable programme.

Full text,

http://www.malariajournal.com/content/pdf/1475-2875-10-344.pdf