An integrated malaria control program with community participation on the Pacific Coast of Colombia

ABSTRACT: The study focuses on integrated malaria control in 23 communities on the Pacific Coast of Colombia, with several elements of an ecosystem approach to human health, including malaria-related sociopolitical, ecological, and economic factors. The program fostered community participation. The program presented here had 2 components: implementation and research. The first was conducted in 23 communities, 21 of which lacked adequate health services in terms of education, community participation, prompt diagnosis and complete treatment, and vector control. Research focused on specific vector control measures and the current national health services decentralization process. The project: 1) created a malaria prevention culture in the community; 2) avoided deaths from malaria (no fatal cases in the 3-year period, compared to 5-8 deaths a year previously); 3) avoided cases of cerebral malaria (no cases, as compared to 90-110 per year previously); 4) reduced malaria incidence by 45.36%; 5) decreased length of sick leave from 7.52 to 3.7 days; 6) established a permanent network of microscope technicians and 2-way radio communications; 7) integrated work by local, regional, and outside institutions; 8) demonstrated efficacy of insecticide-impregnated bednets to reduce malaria transmission.

• Autores: Rojas Montoya, William; Botero, Sonia; García García, Héctor Iván
• Tipo de recurso: Article of investigation
• Fecha de publicación: 2001
• Institución: Universidad de Antioquia
• Repositorio: Repositorio UdeA
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:bibliotecadigital.udea.edu.co:10495/25845
• Acceso en línea: http://hdl.handle.net/10495/25845
• Palabra clave: Malaria; Insectos Vectores; Insect Vectors; Participación de la Comunidad; Community Participation; Salud Pública; Public Health; Prevención y control; Prevention control
• Rights: openAccess
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/co/