School-based intervention for Malaria screening in Malawi
Malaria is endemic across Malawi, and the country experiences high seasonal rates of malaria infection. School-age children have higher risk for undiagnosed and untreated malaria infections than under age 5 children in Malawi, who benefit from a greater health policy emphasis on infant-focused prevention programs. The Learner Treatment Kit (LTK) initiative trains and equips teachers with diagnostic and treatment supplies in order to carry out screening and treatment programming in schools. Teachers are trained to recognize symptoms, use rapid-tests for plasmodium infection diagnosis, and provide treatment medication to infected students.
Problem Statement
School-age children are at higher risk of being infected with undiagnosed malaria, leading to long-term morbidities including anemia, impaired cognition and reduced educational development.
Context
Malawi’s 18.6 million citizens are at high risk of malaria infection, especially during the rainy season from April to November. It is estimated that there are 6.2 million cases per year, and 2.1 million of these cases are estimated to be in children aged 4-15. School-age children are four times more likely to be infected than younger aged children. When school-aged children are infected, they are unable to attend school and can experience anemia and impaired cognition.
Many malaria prevention initiatives exist in Malawi, but these are aimed principally at helping different demographic groups- pregnant women, infants and children under the age of 5. These initiatives focus on increased diagnostic capacity, and provide education about malaria and distribute bed nets to focus on primary prevention.
Factors within the Problem Situation
- Children over the age of 5 are less likely to use bed nets
- Treatment for malaria is often inaccessible, and school-aged children are less likely to be tested and treated
- Children infected with malaria can experience anemia, resulting in cognitive impairment, and are unable to attend school
Implementers/Actors/Stakeholders
- Organizations working on this issue, such as Save the Children Malawi
- Physicians and researchers affiliated with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Malaria Alert Center
- Malawi Ministries of Health and Education national, regional and local levels
- School teachers and students
- Families of students
- Tribal, government, and religious leaders within the community
- Other educational and health based NGOs and domestic civil society organizations that are working on this and related issues
Intervention
Teachers in schools are trained to identify malaria symptoms and other common illnesses and provided with malaria diagnostic tests, antimalarial drugs and other treatments. This accessible, school-based approach eliminates the need for more costly options for testing, and enables learners with malaria to be identified and treated quickly, ensuring they are able to get treatment and continue in school.
Additional Information
Chater and van Niekerk. (2016). Learner Treatment Kit.
Mathanga et al. (2015). The High Burden of Malaria in Primary School Children in Southern Malawi.
