Abstract:
Background: Governments in sub-Sahara Africa are investing substantially in scalingup
treated mosquito net coverage for impact. Under the Insecticide Treated Nets
(ITNs/LLINs) programme, a total of 27 million LLINs have been distributed by from
2009 to 2011 in Tanzania. During the same period, roughly 5.4 million nets will have
been distributed through the Tanzania National Voucher Scheme to pregnant women and
infants.
Currently monitoring and evaluation of such malaria interventions in Tanzania is mainly
based on periodic household surveys in which under-five children and pregnant women
form the sample population. But, these surveys are expensive, time consuming and
labour intensive, and generally only undertaken every 3-5 years and therefore not ideal
for routine monitoring at local levels. A cheaper and rapid complementary approach
would be to use the existing school system for school-based malariometric surveys.
Study objectives: This study aimed at determining the malaria prevalence and rapidly
assessing the population on ITN use using the primary school children in Lindi
municipal.
Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted from March to June 2013 in Lindi
municipal. Structured questionnaires were used to get information on ITN use,
knowledge on malaria and its control. Blood samples were taken to determineparasite
prevalence. Furthermore households were visited to assess the real situation of ITN
coverage and use. The data obtained was entered into and analysed by SPSS computer
software.
Results: The overall prevalence of ITN use by school children was 90.6%, this
prevalence was significantly higher urban part of the municipal 97.9% (188/192) than in
peri-urban 87.0% (335/385). Malaria prevalence was 9.9%(57/577) (by mRDT). This
prevalence was significantly higher in peri-urban 14.0% (54/385) compared to the urban
1.6% (3/192) {P value 0.00}. There was no difference in information obtained from the
school and that from the households’ survey regarding ITN.
Conclusion: Primary school children may be used to rapidly assess ITN use by them
and under-fives in the community while at their schools. Malaria prevalence was
relatively lower compared to those given by the previous studies
