Article Category:
Research Article

Process and Methodological Considerations for Observational Analyses of Vector Control Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa Using Routine Malaria Data

Sarah M. Burnett U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) VectorLink Project, PATH, Washington, District of Columbia;

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Kelly M. Davis U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) VectorLink Project, PATH, Washington, District of Columbia;

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Gudissa Assefa National Malaria Elimination Programme, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;

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Christelle Gogue New Nets Project, PATH, Seattle, Washington;

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Levi D. Hinneh National Malaria Control Programme, Monrovia, Liberia;

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Megan Littrell PATH, Seattle, Washington;

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Julia Mwesigwa New Nets Project, PATH, Kampala, Uganda;

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Okefu O. Okoko National Malaria Elimination Programme, Abuja, Nigeria;

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Saraha Rabeherisoa Programme National de Lutte Contre le Paludisme, Antananarivo, Madagascar;

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Musa Sillah-Kanu National Malaria Control Program, Freetown, Sierra Leone;

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William Sheahan PATH, Seattle, Washington;

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Hannah C. Slater PATH, Seattle, Washington;

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Perpetua Uhomoibhi National Malaria Elimination Programme, Abuja, Nigeria;

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Frederick Yamba National Malaria Control Program, Freetown, Sierra Leone;

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Kelley Ambrose President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) VectorLink Project, Abt Associates, Rockville, Maryland

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Kathryn Stillman President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) VectorLink Project, Abt Associates, Rockville, Maryland

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.22-0757
Volume/Issue:
Ahead of Print
Open access
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Progress in malaria control has stalled in recent years. With growing resistance to existing malaria vector control insecticides and the introduction of new vector control products, national malaria control programs (NMCPs) increasingly need to make data-driven, subnational decisions to inform vector control deployment. As NMCPs are increasingly conducting subnational stratification of malaria control interventions, including malaria vector control, country-specific frameworks and platforms are increasingly needed to guide data use for vector control deployment. Integration of routine health systems data, entomological data, and vector control program data in observational longitudinal analyses offers an opportunity for NMCPs and research institutions to conduct evaluations of existing and novel vector control interventions. Drawing on the experience of implementing 22 vector control evaluations across 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as published and gray literature on vector control impact evaluations using routine health information system data, this article provides practical guidance on the design of these evaluations, makes recommendations for key variables and data sources, and proposes methods to address challenges in data quality. Key recommendations include appropriate parameterization of impact and coverage indicators, incorporating explanatory covariates and contextual factors from multiple sources (including rapid diagnostic testing stockouts; insecticide susceptibility; vector density measures; vector control coverage, use, and durability; climate and other malaria and non-malaria health programs), and assessing data quality before the evaluation through either on-the-ground or remote data quality assessments. These recommendations may increase the frequency, rigor, and utilization of routine data sources to inform national program decision-making for vector control.

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Sarah M. Burnett, PMI VectorLink Project, PATH, 455 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20001. E-mail: sburnett@path.org

Financial support: This study was supported by the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative.

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Authors’ addresses: Sarah M. Burnett and Kelly M. Davis, U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) VectorLink Project, PATH, Washington, DC, E-mails: sburnett@path.org and kdavis@path.org. Gudissa Assefa, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, E-mail: gudissa.assefa@moh.gov.et. Christelle Gogue, New Nets Project, PATH, Seattle, WA, E-mail: cgogue@path.org. Levi D. Hinneh, National Malaria Control Programme, Monrovia, Liberia, E-mails: dlevi30@gmail.com or levihinneh64@yahoo.com. Megan Littrell, William Sheahan, and Hannah C. Slater, PATH, Seattle, WA, E-mails: mlittrell@path.org, wsheahan@path.org, and hslater@path.org. Julia Mwesigwa New Nets Project, PATH, Kampala, Uganda, E-mails: jmwesigwa@path.org. Okefu O. Okoko and Perpetua Uhomoibhi, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Abuja, Nigeria, E-mail: oyalepp@yahoo.com and puhomoibhi@yahoo.com. Saraha Rabeherisoa, Programme National de Lutte Contre le Paludisme, Antananarivo, Madagascar, E-mail: drsarabe14@gmail.com. Musa Sillah-Kanu and Frederick Yamba, National Malaria Control Program, Freetown, Sierra Leone, E-mails: sillahmusakanu@gmail.com and yambason74@gmail.com. Kelley Ambrose and Kathryn Stillman, PMI VectorLink Project, Abt Associates, Rockville, MD, E-mails: kelley_ambrose@abtassoc.com and kathryn_stillman@abtassoc.com.

Copyright:
© The author(s) 2023
Received:
07 Dec 2022
|
Accepted:
21 Jun 2023
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Published Online:
21 Aug 2023
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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