The impact of vector control measures on malaria epidemiology in Dar es Salaam

A study on the impact of vector control measures on malaria epidemiology, before and after intervention measures were applied, was conducted in Magomeni in Dar-es-Salaam between October 1988 and April 1989. The study involved determining the prevalence rate of malaria by parasite and spleen rates, using children aged between 2-9 years old living in the study area, and comparing it with that of a control area. The main objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of malaria before and after intervention and the effectiveness of the anti-vector measures of the malaria control programme in Magomeni. The study revealed that the prevalence of malaria in the study area was 20% before intervention and 19.7% six months after intervention. There was no statistically significant decrease in malaria prevalence six months after intervention measures were instituted. The spleen rate was not found to have significantly decreased after intervention. It was also found that Anopheles larval densities in the breeding sites in the study area were still high despite the application of the larvicide, 50% (EC) Fenitrothion. However, it was observed that there was a gradual decrease in larval densities over the six month period in both the study and comparison areas.