Community engagement for malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Sub-region: a qualitative study among malaria researchers and policymakers

Nils Kaehler,Christopher Pell,Arjen M Dondorp,Phaik Yeong Cheah,Bipin Adhikari,Nicholas P J Day,Lorenz Von Seidlein

doi:10.1186/s12936-022-04069-x

Abstract

BackgroundCommunity engagement has increasingly received attention in malaria research and programme interventions, particularly as countries aim for malaria elimination. Although community engagement strategies and activities are constantly developing, little is known about how those who implement research or programmes view community engagement. This article explores the perspectives of researchers and policy makers in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) on community engagement for malaria control and elimination.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted among 17 policymakers and 15 senior researchers working in the field of malaria. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed in English. Transcribed data were analysed using deductive and inductive approaches in QSR NVivo. Themes and sub-themes were generated.ResultsResearchers and policymakers emphasized the importance of community engagement in promoting participation in malaria research and interventions. Building trust with the community was seen as crucial. Respondents emphasized involving authority/leadership structures and highlighted the need for intense and participatory engagement. Geographic remoteness, social, cultural, and linguistic diversity were identified as barriers to meaningful engagement. Local staff were described as an essential ‘connect’ between researchers or policymakers and prospective participants. Sharing information with community members, using various strategies including creative and participatory methods were highlighted.ConclusionsPolicymakers and researchers involved in malaria prevention and control in the GMS viewed community engagement as crucial for promoting participation in research or programmatic interventions. Given the difficulties of the ‘last mile’ to elimination, sustained investment in community engagement is needed in isolated areas of the GMS where malaria transmission continues. Involving community-based malaria workers is ever more critical to ensure the elimination efforts engage hard-to-reach populations in remote areas of GMS.

Highlights

Community engagement has increasingly received attention in malaria research and programme interventions, as countries aim for malaria elimination
Community engagement is increasingly recognized as a critical element in malaria elimination [6,7,8], for example, to ensure that last cases are identified and treated before they lead to focal outbreaks [8]
The balance of policymakers and researchers allowed a fair comparison between their perspectives and to generate conclusions

Summary

Introduction

Community engagement has increasingly received attention in malaria research and programme interventions, as countries aim for malaria elimination. This article explores the perspectives of researchers and policy makers in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) on community engagement for malaria control and elimination. Community engagement has received increasing attention in health research and programme interventions [1, 2]. What constitutes community and Kaehler et al Malaria Journal (2022) 21:46 engagement is debated, because of differences in overall aims [3]. As malaria declines in areas, such as the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS), countries are setting elimination as a goal. Recent studies on mass anti-malarial administration in Asia and Africa have shown how appropriate community engagement can promote uptake of interventions aimed at achieving elimination [5, 9]

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion