Exploring activities and behaviours potentially increases school-age children’s vulnerability to malaria infections in south-eastern Tanzania

Malaria Journal

Research

Yeromin P. Mlacha¹  Christina Makungu¹  Hajirani M. Msuya¹  Tegemeo Gavana²  Fadhila Kihwele²  Nicodem James Govella³  Prosper Pius Chaki⁴  Bruno Fokas Sunguya⁵ 

[1] Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Department, P.O. Box 78373, #5 Ifakara Street, Plot 463 Mikocheni, Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania;Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Department, P.O. Box 78373, #5 Ifakara Street, Plot 463 Mikocheni, Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania;Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania;Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Department, P.O. Box 78373, #5 Ifakara Street, Plot 463 Mikocheni, Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania;School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering (LISBE), Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O. BOX 447, Tengeru, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania;Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Department, P.O. Box 78373, #5 Ifakara Street, Plot 463 Mikocheni, Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania;The Pan African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA), KEMRI Headquarters, Mbagathi Road Nairobi, 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya;Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania;

关键词: Malaria;    Disease reservoir;    School-age children;    Focus Group Discussion;    Human behavior;    Outdoor malaria transmission;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12936-023-04703-2

 received in 2023-04-18, accepted in 2023-09-02,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundStrengthening malaria control activities in Tanzania has dramatically declined human malaria infections. However, there is an increasing epidemiological shift in the burden on school-age children. The underlying causes for such an epidemiological shift remain unknown in this context. This study explored activities and behaviours that could increase the vulnerability of school-age children to transmission risk to provide insight into protection gap with existing interventions and opportunities for supplementary interventions.MethodsThis cross-sectional study conducted twenty-four focus group discussions (FGDs) in three districts of Rufiji, Kibiti and Kilwa in south-eastern Tanzania. Sixteen FGDs worked with school-age children (13 to 18 years) separating girls and boys and eight FGDs with their parents in mixed-gender groups. A total of 205 community members participated in FGDs across the study area. Of them, 72 participants were parents, while 133 were school-age children (65 boys and 68 girls).ResultsRoutine domestic activities such as fetching water, washing kitchen utensils, cooking, and recreational activities such as playing and watching television and studying were the reported activities that kept school-age children outdoors early evening to night hours (between 18:00 and 23:00). Likewise, the social and cultural events including initiation ceremonies and livelihood activities also kept this age group outdoors from late evening to early night and sometimes past midnight hours. Parents migrating to farms from December to June, leaving behind school-age children unsupervised affecting their net use behaviour plus spending more time outdoors at night, and the behaviour of children sprawling legs and hands while sleeping inside treated bed nets were identified as potential risks to infectious mosquito bites.ConclusionThe risky activities, behaviours, and social events mostly occurring outdoors might increase school-age children’s vulnerability to malaria infections. The findings provide preliminary insight on potential risk factors for persisting transmission. Further studies to quantify the risk behaviour and activities are recommended to establish the magnitude and anticipated impact on supplementary control strategies to control infection in school-age children.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 6