Role of community participation in vector control activities to reduce malaria burden in urban Temeke municipality.

Abstract

Tanzania is among the developing countries laboring under the burden of vector borne diseases like malaria. Community participation is pivotal in malaria control. In particular malaria vector control by its very nature requires community participation for achieving sustainable success. A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in urban Temeke Municipality, to evaluate the role of community participation in vector control activities to reduce malaria burden. A total of 320 heads of households took part in this study. Participants to the study were selected using a multi stage sampling technique. A semi- structured questionnaire was used to generate data. Overall the role of community participation in malaria vector control activities was 52%. Community awareness regarding malaria vector control was high hence the reason for more than a half (51 %) of respondents agreeing that their environment was conducive for the breeding of mosquitoes in line with presence of active breeding sites in 55% of the households. The use of bed nets was the most frequently practiced control measure however a significant proportion of respondents had not treated their nets. At community level keeping surroundings clean was the most common practiced measure. The findings also indicate that a slightly more than one third (40%) of community members financially contributed for different malaria intervention activities. However there was a significant proportion who maintained that vector control activities should be free. Majority of community members were aware of the Urban Malaria Control Program. It was evident that the community rated the success of the program by a reduction of mosquito numbers. The government through Council Health Management Team of Temeke municipality should sensitize the community on the importance on treating their bed nets regularly as one third (33%) of members had not treated their nets in the last six months and also on benefits of contributing financially towards malaria vector control activities.