Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Malar J. 2018 Apr 27;17(1):181. doi: 10.1186/s12936-018-2320-7.
In 2015, malaria infected over 212 million people and killed over 429,000 individuals, mostly children under 5 years of age, with 90% of malaria cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim was to develop an age and culturally appropriate song for Tshivenda-speaking children under 5 years of age to decrease the risk of malaria in Limpopo Province, South Africa.
Document review was used to identify appropriate disease determinants to decrease risk in children < 5 years old in the study area. These were used to develop lyrics and music for a song about malaria in line with the principles of participatory risk analysis. The age and cultural appropriateness of the song as well as disease determinants chosen were reviewed using a modified Delphi technique, by 10 purposively selected experts in malaria (4), Vhavenda music (3) and early childhood education (3). Thereafter, the song was translated into Tshivenda and reviewed by two focus groups living in the study area, one including female caregivers and pre-school teachers (n = 7) and a second comprising of male community based malaria control personnel (n = 5).
The experts surveyed and both focus groups strongly supported the inclusion of knowledge about the link between mosquitoes and malaria and that children should know the signs of malaria to facilitate early diagnosis. Although the expert group felt that bed nets should not be mentioned, both focus groups suggested the inclusion of bed nets and it was observed that community members were purchasing their own nets. Focus group members also felt that young children should not be involved in internal residual spraying initiatives.
It was concluded that although risk communication on malaria prevention and treatment in young children should be aimed at caregivers, an age and culture appropriate song about malaria could be developed to help young children protect themselves. This song focused on understanding the link between mosquitoes and malaria, preventing exposure and recognising signs of disease.
2015 年，疟疾感染人数超过 2.12 亿，死亡人数超过 42.9 万，其中 90%的疟疾病例发生在撒哈拉以南非洲。目的是为 5 岁以下讲茨瓦纳语的儿童创作一首适合年龄和文化的歌曲，以降低南非林波波省的疟疾风险。
文献回顾用于确定研究区域内 5 岁以下儿童降低风险的适当疾病决定因素。这些因素被用来根据参与性风险分析的原则编写一首关于疟疾的歌词和音乐。歌曲的年龄和文化适宜性以及选择的疾病决定因素通过 10 名疟疾（4 名）、茨瓦纳音乐（3 名）和幼儿教育（3 名）领域的选定专家参与的改良德尔菲技术进行审查。之后，歌曲被翻译成茨瓦纳语，并由两个生活在研究区域的焦点小组进行审查，一个小组包括女性照顾者和学前教师（n=7），另一个小组包括男性社区疟疾控制人员（n=5）。
接受调查的专家和两个焦点小组都强烈支持纳入关于蚊子和疟疾之间联系的知识，以及儿童应该知道疟疾的症状，以促进早期诊断。虽然专家组认为不应提及蚊帐，但两个焦点小组都建议纳入蚊帐，并且观察到社区成员正在购买自己的蚊帐。焦点小组成员还认为，不应让幼儿参与内部残留喷雾倡议。
研究得出结论，尽管针对幼儿的疟疾预防和治疗风险沟通应该针对照顾者，但可以开发一首适合年龄和文化的疟疾歌曲，以帮助幼儿保护自己。这首歌侧重于了解蚊子和疟疾之间的联系、预防接触和识别疾病迹象。
