Development and evaluation of a spatial decision support system for malaria elimination in Bhutan

Malaria Journal

Research

Cathy Banwell¹  Archie CA Clements¹  Gerard C. Kelly¹  Kinley Wangdi²  Michelle L. Gatton³  Rinzin Namgay⁴ 

[1] Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia;Research School of Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia;Phuentsholing General Hospital, Phuentsholing, Bhutan;School of Public Health & Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia;Vector-borne Disease Control Programme, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Gelephu, Bhutan;

关键词: Bhutan;    Spatial decision support system;    Long-lasting insecticidal nets;    Key informants;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12936-016-1235-4

 received in 2015-10-17, accepted in 2016-03-15,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundBhutan has reduced its malaria incidence significantly in the last 5 years, and is aiming for malaria elimination by 2016. To assist with the management of the Bhutanese malaria elimination programme a spatial decision support system (SDSS) was developed. The current study aims to describe SDSS development and evaluate SDSS utility and acceptability through informant interviews.MethodsThe SDSS was developed based on the open-source Quantum geographical information system (QGIS) and piloted to support the distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) in the two sub-districts of Samdrup Jongkhar District. It was subsequently used to support reactive case detection (RACD) in the two sub-districts of Samdrup Jongkhar and two additional sub-districts in Sarpang District. Interviews were conducted to ascertain perceptions on utility and acceptability of 11 informants using the SDSS, including programme and district managers, and field workers.ResultsA total of 1502 households with a population of 7165 were enumerated in the four sub-districts, and a total of 3491 LLINs were distributed with one LLIN per 1.7 persons. A total of 279 households representing 728 residents were involved with RACD. Informants considered that the SDSS was an improvement on previous methods for organizing LLIN distribution, IRS and RACD, and could be easily integrated into routine malaria and other vector-borne disease surveillance systems. Informants identified some challenges at the programme and field level, including the need for more skilled personnel to manage the SDSS, and more training to improve the effectiveness of SDSS implementation and use of hardware.ConclusionsThe SDSS was well accepted and informants expected its use to be extended to other malaria reporting districts and other vector-borne diseases. Challenges associated with efficient SDSS use included adequate skills and knowledge, access to training and support, and availability of hardware including computers and global positioning system receivers.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Wangdi et al. 2016