Final paper

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6-2 Project Preparation: Intervention Strategies

Deanna Buchanan

Southern New Hampshire University

IHP 501: Global Health and Diversity

Dr, Esther Johnstone

6-2 Project Preparation: Intervention Strategies

This paper presents the intervention strategies that will be used to deal with the malaria problem in Zambia during the humanitarian aid trip. The interventions are culturally appropriate to the local population and are expected to facilitate an efficient means of fighting the malaria problem. Both conventional and CIH interventions will be discussed.

Conventional Intervention

Vision

Description: The proposed conventional intervention to deal with the malaria problem in Zambia is vector control. This intervention will be comprised of two major strategies, namely, indoor residual spraying (IRS) and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). IRS entails using residual insecticide to coat a house’s internal surfaces; this strategy led to a 25% reduction in the parasite that causes malaria in a province in Zambia between 2014 and 2016 (Hast et al., 2019). ITNs offer personnel protection to people from malaria-causing mosquitos; they not only protect people in Zambia from malaria but other arthropod-borne diseases as well (Masaninga et al., 2018). This intervention will be practiced in areas where vulnerable and low-income individuals reside.

Purpose: The objective of this intervention is to prevent people from being infected with malaria and minimize the disease transmission rate (Sougoufara, Ottih, & Tripet, 2020). This is because vector control strives to reduce pathogen transmission by either eliminating or minimizing contact between the vector and humans (Derua et al., 2019).

Rationale: This intervention is the best option for the malaria challenge in Zambia because it is a cost-effective preventive measure. Specific populations in Zambia are at a high risk of getting malaria. Such populations tend to constitute individuals from remote areas and low socioeconomic backgrounds. These are people with limited access and economic means to afford proper healthcare resources such as preventive interventions (Degarege et al., 2019). Therefore, the vector control intervention will ensure that the high-risk population does not have to worry about costly treatment.

Implementation

Personnel Required: The interdisciplinary team members required to implement the intervention are the community groups and the local health institutions. The former will be responsible for the distribution of the treated nets and indoor residual spraying. The latter will be responsible for the education and sensitization of the masses regarding the importance of the intervention measures. This multifaceted strategy is recommended by Scates et al. (2020) as a means of facilitating large-scale mass distribution campaigns of ITNs.

Supplies/Technical Requirements: Safety nets and sprays will have to be purchased to facilitate the intervention (Scates et al., 2020). Also, a lorry for transporting these supplies and a bus for transporting the aid workers will be required. These logistics and transportation requirements are vital for the success of the project (Masaninga et al., 2018). Laptops will be used to keep an inventory of the resources used.

Cost: The estimated cost for the implementation of the intervention will be $100, 000. This will cover the transportation costs, purchase of required materials, and payment of the local aid workers. The intervention cost for each house is expected to be an average of $15 assuming a household will require three nets. Scates et al. (2020) report that the economic costs per net is approximately $4.37 to $4.61.

Complementary or Integrative Health (CIH) Intervention

Vision

Description: The proposed CIH intervention is mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). This intervention will comprise practices such as yoga and meditation.

Purpose: MBSR is an effective intervention used to help people reduce their stress levels, depression, and anxiety. Through practices like yoga and meditation, the intervention allows individuals to be present, non-judgmental about their feelings, and avoid worrying about the future or the past. Ramirez-Garcia et al. (2019) state that MBSR gas been used to help women living with HIV in Zambia to enhance the wellbeing and minimize their symptoms. The intervention can also be used to help women dealing with malaria gain similar benefits.

Rationale: According to Willis and Hamon (2020), women in Zambia are the primary caregivers for individuals that get malaria. This means that their productivity and general wellbeing is adversely impacted. The selected CIH intervention will help these women manage their stress levels as they balance between taking care of the sick and remaining economically productive.

Implementation

Personnel Required: Therapists that are specialized in the MBSR will be sourced from the volunteers in foreign or international-based organizations. This is because there are very few personnel that are certified in the practice of MBSR in Africa (Ajari, 2020). The volunteers will work with women in the at-risk populations to help them manage their stress.

Supplies/Technical Requirements: The only resources required are the therapists. The CIH intervention does not require the purchase of any materials (Ajari, 2020; Ramirez-Garcia et al. (2019).

Costs: Each therapist will be a volunteer considering the lack of certified therapists in Africa that can implement the intervention (Ajari, 2020). Therefore, there will be no costs involved in the implementation of MBSR.

Conclusion

This paper has presented the intervention strategies that will be used to deal with the malaria problem in Zambia during the humanitarian aid trip. The interventions are culturally appropriate to the local population and are expected to facilitate an efficient means of fighting the malaria problem. The selected conventional intervention is vector control while the CIH intervention is MBSR.

References

Ajari, E. E. (2020). Mindfulness meditation as a complementary health therapy: A useful import into Africa? European Journal of Environment and Public Health,  4(2), em0048. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/8328

Degarege, A., Fennie, K., Degarege, D., Chennupati, S., & Madhivanan, P. (2019). Improving socioeconomic status may reduce the burden of malaria in sub Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.  PloS One,  14(1), e0211205. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211205

Derua, Y. A., Kweka, E. J., Kisinza, W. N., Githeko, A. K., & Mosha, F. W. (2019). Bacterial larvicides used for malaria vector control in sub-Saharan Africa: Review of their effectiveness and operational feasibility.  Parasites & Vectors,  12(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-019-3683-5

Hast, M. A., Chaponda, M., Muleba, M., Kabuya, J. B., Lupiya, J., Kobayashi, T., ... & Moss, W. J. (2019). The impact of 3 years of targeted indoor residual spraying with pirimiphos-methyl on malaria parasite prevalence in a high-transmission area of northern Zambia.  American Journal of Epidemiology,  188(12), 2120-2130. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwz107

Masaninga, F., Mukumbuta, N., Ndhlovu, K., Hamainza, B., Wamulume, P., Chanda, E., ... & Kawesha-Chizema, E. (2018). Insecticide-treated nets mass distribution campaign: Benefits and lessons in Zambia.  Malaria Journal,  17, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-018-2314-5

Ramirez-Garcia, M. P., Gagnon, M. P., Colson, S., Côté, J., Flores-Aranda, J., & Dupont, M. (2019). Mind-body practices for people living with HIV: A systematic scoping review.  BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine,  19, 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2502-z

Scates, S. S., Finn, T. P., Wisniewski, J., Dadi, D., Mandike, R., Khamis, M., ... & Yukich, J. (2020). Costs of insecticide-treated bed net distribution systems in sub-Saharan Africa.  Malaria Journal,  19, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03164-1

Sougoufara, S., Ottih, E. C., & Tripet, F. (2020). The need for new vector control approaches targeting outdoor biting Anopheline malaria vector communities.  Parasites & Vectors,  13(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04170-7

Willis, D. W., & Hamon, N. (2020). Potential impact of eradicating malaria on gender inequality within agricultural households in sub-Saharan Africa.  Gates Open Research,  4(114), 114. https://doi.org/10.12688%2Fgatesopenres.13154.1