Impact of Insecticide Resistance on Malaria Control in Zambia
Author Information
Author(s): Chanda Emmanuel, Hemingway Janet, Kleinschmidt Immo, Rehman Andrea M., Ramdeen Varsha, Phiri Faustina N., Coetzer Sarel, Mthembu David, Shinondo Cecilia J., Chizema-Kawesha Elizabeth, Kamuliwo Mulakwa, Mukonka Victor, Baboo Kumar S., Coleman Michael
Primary Institution: Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
Hypothesis
How does emerging insecticide resistance affect malaria transmission and control efforts in Zambia?
Conclusion
Insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying effectively controlled malaria vectors, but the emergence of insecticide resistance poses a significant threat to ongoing control efforts.
Supporting Evidence
- 619 Anopheles gambiae and 228 Anopheles funestus were captured during the study.
- Resistance to DDT and pyrethroids was detected in both An. gambiae and An. funestus.
- Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum remained below 10% throughout the study period.
Takeaway
The study shows that while mosquito control methods are working, the growing resistance to insecticides could make it harder to fight malaria in Zambia.
Methodology
Mosquitoes were captured using window exit traps, and household surveys were conducted to monitor malaria prevalence in children aged 1 to 14 years.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in sampling methods and participant selection could affect the results.
Limitations
The study may not account for all factors influencing malaria transmission, such as outdoor mosquito behavior.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 1 to 14 years from various districts in Zambia.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.036
Confidence Interval
95% CI 3.9–12.1
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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