Abstract
Malaria volunteers (MVs) play an essential role in resolving malaria problems by delivering greater access to diagnosis and treatment services, mainly for the underserved community residing in hard-to-reach rural areas. The Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW) has implemented community-based malaria control activities among the ethnic minorities in southeastern Myanmar by promoting the roles of MVs. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing the performance of MVs regarding malaria control activities in the area. From July to August 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 townships of southeastern Myanmar under the umbrella of the KDHW malaria project. A total of 140 MVs were employed as study participants. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. For data analyses, descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, and logistics regression models were applied. More than half of the MVs perceived a good level of performance on malaria control activities. A higher level of performance has been observed among the MVs who had another job (AOR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2–3.9), those experienced in health-related fields (AOR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.4–4.9), who received good community support (AOR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3–10.9), who were volunteers beyond three years (AOR: 4.0, 95% CI: 2.8–9.2), and whose family income totaled over 500,000 MMK (AOR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.6–4.2). The results mentioned the characteristics which should be prioritized in recruiting MVs. MV network and their workforce need to be nurtured by encouraging community support. For performance sustainability, attractive incentive schemes or a salary should be subsidized in support of their livelihoods.
Highlights
Malaria remains one of the public health problems in many countries, being a curable and preventable disease.e World Malaria Report estimated 228 million malaria cases and 405,000 malaria deaths occurred globally during 2018 [1]
Myanmar has set a goal of being malaria transmission-free by 2030, with the encouragement of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the country’s government [3, 4]. us, the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) has set specific policies in the National Malaria Elimination Plan 2016–2030 [3], including achieving equity in access to services irrespective of gender, race, and ethnicity, especially for the most vulnerable and Journal of Tropical Medicine hard-to-reach populations
In 2016, those malaria volunteers (MVs) performed diagnosis and treatment for 73,404 malaria cases, accounting for nearly 70% of the country’s achievement in community case management [2, 6]. at figure means the participation of MVs in Myanmar has been playing a major role in ensuring universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment among hard-to-reach and at-risk populations, especially in rural areas
Summary
Malaria remains one of the public health problems in many countries, being a curable and preventable disease.e World Malaria Report estimated 228 million malaria cases and 405,000 malaria deaths occurred globally during 2018 [1]. Most of the reported malaria cases emerged from areas that were hard to reach in nature, occupied with poor transportation infrastructures, internal armed conflicts, or at cross-border points [3]. Health status in these locations appears to be struggling to improve and the outputs of implemented disease control services were very minimal. At figure means the participation of MVs in Myanmar has been playing a major role in ensuring universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment among hard-to-reach and at-risk populations (including mobile and migrants populations, forest-related workers usually residing in remote, cross-border, and ethnic groups), especially in rural areas In 2016, those MVs performed diagnosis and treatment for 73,404 malaria cases, accounting for nearly 70% of the country’s achievement in community case management [2, 6]. at figure means the participation of MVs in Myanmar has been playing a major role in ensuring universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment among hard-to-reach and at-risk populations (including mobile and migrants populations, forest-related workers usually residing in remote, cross-border, and ethnic groups), especially in rural areas
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