Role of vector control in fighting against malaria: Evidence from Ethiopian health-related indicators.

BACKGROUND

Due to a high burden imposed on public health from malaria disease in Sub-Saharan Africa, the vector control strategy is a significant concern. Despite the implementation of malaria control interventions in Ethiopia, it remains a major public health problem. Moreover, none of the prior researches was conducted in this title specifically. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of vector control interventions on malaria based on panel data of 10 malaria endemic-regions from 2000 to 2018.

METHODS

A reflexive analysis study based on before-and-after assessment was used to evaluate the impact of vector control interventions on malaria with a difference-in-difference approach, representing Period I for before and Period II for after strategic intervention. The random-effect model was also employed to explore the direct relationship between the study variables. The data exported to Stata version 13.0 for analysis.

RESULTS

The study results suggest that the negative relationship between intervention strategy and malaria cases reported in comparison with its counterfactual, showing the increase in malaria cases during Period II comparing to Period I. The study explores a remarkable achievement on the decline in mean malaria-related death in all regions after the implementation of the strategy. Furthermore, a significant relationship between indoor residual spraying, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and malaria was demonstrated within the strategic periods.

CONCLUSION

Better results achieved in Period I on mean malaria cases. The results of Period II showed a decline in mean malaria related-death, which was encouraging. The study calls for a supplementary strategy to align with the existing program. The study demonstrates the need for extra efforts on the implementation of the programme and progress about malaria.