Residual malaria among migrant workers in Myanmar: why still persistent and how to eliminate it?

BMC Infectious Diseases

Wai Myat Thwe¹  Su Mon Win¹  Myat Phone Kyaw¹  Myat Htut Nyunt¹  Shine Thura Naing¹  Khin Myo Aye¹  Mi Mi Htwe¹  Aye Su Mon¹  Ni Ni Zaw¹  Aung Thi² 

[1] Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sports, Yangon, Republic of the Union of Myanmar;Department of Public Health, National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Sports, Nay Pyi Taw, Republic of the Union of Myanmar;

关键词: Malaria;    Migrants;    Malaria elimination;    Myanmar;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-021-06839-5

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundResidual malaria is probably an important source for the re-emergence of malaria infection in the elimination era. Assessment to identify the factors influencing residual malaria in high-risk groups is needed to develop evidence-based decisions by stakeholders and policymakers.MethodsThis study was conducted to explore the factors influencing the residual malaria infection among migrant workers in two sentinel sites (endemic vs. pre-elimination areas) in Myanmar using the mixed-model method.ResultsA total of 102 migrant respondents (65 in Bamauk and 37 in Shwegyin) were included for the quantitative assessment using pretested questionnaires during household visits. Although 87.3% of them had insecticidal bed nets (ITNs/LLINs), only 68.3% of the migrants in Bamauk and 57.9% in Shwegyin used it regularly. The use of any bed net was high (79.9% in Bamauk vs. 91.0% in Shwegyin). The mean LLINs in their families were 1.64 (95%CI: 1.48–1.81) in Bamauk and 2.89 (95%CI: 2.67–3.11) in Shwegyin. Most of them received no health information for malaria prevention within the last year and their knowledge about malaria was low. Their working nature was a challenge for control measures against malaria in migrants.ConclusionThe strategy for distributing LLINs and health promotion activities for mobile/migrant populations should be reviewed, and an appropriate action plan should be developed for the specific migrant group. Moreover, health promotion activities for behavior change communication should be strengthened in the migrant population in Myanmar.

【 授权许可】

CC BY