Abstract
Background: Malaria is one of the important public health problems of African and south east Asian countries including India which contributes to approximately 75% of malaria cases in South East Asia. Some areas of states such as Rajasthan, Gujrat, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Orissa have a very high incidence of malaria with an Annual parasite index more than 5. Behavioral interventions such as public awareness programs, rallies and educational camps are found to be very effective in decreasing the incidence of malaria. The biological interventions such as use of Gambusia fish have been found to be effective measures in decreasing the incidence of malaria.
Materials and Methods: Following Behavioral and biological interventions the incidence of malaria was analyzed over a period of 7 years from 2009-2016. During this period 600 natural water bodies and 72 hatcheries were made and Gambusia fishes were used to prevent the growth of mosquitoes in water bodies. Information, education and communication techniques such as rallies, demonstrations and information camps were organized. The purpose of these IEC activities was to make public aware about the personal prevention of mosquito bites. The reduction in cases and mortality due to malaria was analyzed. For Statistical Purposes SSPE 16 software was used.
Results: Following Behavioral and Biological Interventions such as allies, demonstrations and information camps and use of Gambusia fish as larvicidal there was a significant reduction in the incidence of Malaria in areas covered under Primary health care centers/community health care centers namely Gajner, Barsalpur, Diyatra, Godu and Kolayat, RD820, Bajju, Akkasar, Bikampur and Gadiyala. There was a statistically significant reduction in API in all the regions over a period of 7 years from 2009 to 2016.
Conclusion: IEC activities leading to behavioral modification and use of biological agents such as Gambusia fish as larvicidal are found to have a profound impact in reduction in incidence of malaria.
Keywords: Malaria, Annual Parasite Index, Behavior modification, Gambusia Fish.
References
- Trampuz A, Jereb M, Muzlovic I, Prabhu RM. Clinical review: Severe malaria. Crit Care. 2003;7(4):315-23.
- Schumacher RF, Spinelli E. Malaria in children. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 2012;4(1):e2012073.
- Kumar A, Chery L, Biswas C, et al. Malaria in South Asia: prevalence and control. Acta Trop. 2012;121(3):246-55.
- Howes RE, Battle KE, Mendis KN, et al. Global Epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016;95(6 Suppl):15-34.
- Das MK, Prasad RN. Evaluation of mosquito fish Gambusia affinis in the control of mosquito breeding in rice fields. Indian J Malariol. 1991 Sep;28(3):171-7.
- Fletcher M, Teklehaimanot A, Yemane G. Control of mosquito larvae in the port city of Assab by an indigenous larvivorous fish, Aphanius dispar. Acta Trop. 1992; 52:155–166.
- Longnecker MP, Rogan WJ, Lucier G. The human health effects of DDT(dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and PCBS (polychlorinated biphenyls) and an overview of organochlorines in public health. Annu Rev Public Health. 1997;18:211-44.
- Louca V, Lucas MC, Green C, Majambere S, Fillinger U, Lindsay SW. Role of fish as predators of mosquito larvae on the floodplain of the Gambia River. J Med Entomol. 2009;46(3):546-56.
- Wang Y, He W, Qin N, He QS, Kong XZ, Tao S, Xu FL. Distributions, sources, and ecological risks of DDT-related contaminants in water, suspended particulate matter, and sediments from Haihe Plain, Northern China. Environ Monit Assess. 2013 Feb;185(2):1777-90.
- Howard AF, Zhou G, Omlin FX. Malaria mosquito control using edible fish in western Kenya: preliminary findings of a controlled study. BMC Public Health. 2007;7:199. Published 2007 Aug 9. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-199
- Walshe DP, Garner P, Abdel-Hameed Adeel AA, Pyke GH, Burkot T. Larvivorous fish for preventing malaria transmission. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(12):CD008090. Published 2013 Dec 10.
- Tabibzadeh I, Behbehani G, Nakhai R. Use of gambusia fish in the malaria eradication programme of Iran. Bull World Health Organ. 1970;43(4):623-6.
- Mugisa M, Muzoora A. Behavioral change communication strategy vital in malaria prevention interventions in rural communities: Nakasongola district, Uganda. Pan Afr Med J. 2012;13 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):2.
- Kishore J, Gupta VK, Singh SV, Garg S, Kaur R, Ingle GK. Impact of health education intervention on knowledge and community action for malaria control in Delhi. J Commun Dis. 2008 Sep; 40(3):183-92.
- Tizifa TA, Kabaghe AN, McCann RS, van den Berg H, Van Vugt M, Phiri KS. Prevention Efforts for Malaria. Curr Trop Med Rep. 2018;5(1):41-50.
Corresponding Author
Dr Anil Verma
BCMHO Kolayat Bikaner, India
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i1.03
