Developing a home-based geo-information system to optimize local level interventions against malaria mosquitoes

While ongoing interventions are having significant impact, techniques for mapping intra-village variations that would allow targeting of hotspots of residual transmission are lacking. To accomplish the study objectives, the team surveyed and mapped the targeted study area – Morogoro region, southeastern Tanzania, Ulanga and Kilombero districts and Dar es Salaam on the eastern coast in Ilala district – using global positioning system (GPS) receivers. The GPS data were then imported into ArcGIS Desktop 10 (ESRI Eastern Africa) and used to prepare maps of the study area, identifying active vector breeding habitats or significant vector population densities.

To validate the community map data, the team conducted entomological surveillance (i.e., adults and larval density surveillance, using odour-baited outdoor mosquito traps).

Significantly, more disease-transmitting mosquitoes were consistently caught in areas with a high density of environmental and anthropogenic variables, compared to medium- or low-density distributions of environmental and anthropogenic variables across all study villages.

Developing a home-based geo-information system to optimize local level interventions against malaria mosquitoes

Residual Transmission
Vector Control

Mar 2014 — Jan 2016

$97,383

Tanzania