Abstract:
Malaria control has received significant attention in the Akwapim South Municipality yet
remains the highest cause of ill-health among the people. Not only must interventions be put in
place but they must actually be effective in ensuring that malaria morbidity and mortality are
eliminated. There have been series of strategies that have been implemented under the malaria
control programme to control and prevent malaria. Despite the fact that interventions have been
introduced, their effectiveness is in doubt since malaria still remains a major public health
problem in the Akwapim South Municipality. The study attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of
this programme in terms of its outcomes on access to these interventions, knowledge on malaria
and the overall impact of the strategies on trends of malaria prevalence among households in
Akwapim South Municipality.
The study used the cluster based sampling technique to solicit the views of 200 households using
a questionnaire. Also, interviews with 20 health workers provided crucial qualitative data as well
as the review of secondary data from the district and regional health offices. Other qualitative
methods employed were in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with programme
stakeholders and households who were the beneficiaries.
The results show a significant increase in terms of coverage of most of the strategies. There is
increased possession of insecticides treated nets (74%) of the 100% target by 2015. Despite the
increases on access to the ITNs, their utilization remains low among households. All pregnant
women who visited health facility were put on Intermittent Preventive Treatment for pregnant
women as targeted to achieve by 2015. There was evidence of limited coverage of indoor
residual spraying and likewise there was low access to prompt treatment of malaria. Overall, the
malaria situation remains high with a prevalence of 67% of households reporting of malaria in
the past two weeks. The study indicates a decrease in terms of malaria mortality. Against the
target of achieving a 100% for all malaria cases confirmed before treatment by 2015, the findings
showed that only 50% of malaria cases were confirmed before treatment. There was also an over
concentration on the curative aspect of malaria cases than measures for prevention which are
more likely to ensure sustainable malaria control. The key challenges of the programme included
inadequate funding, low staffing and low involvement of the people. Poor involvement of the
people led to low levels of acceptability.
The study concludes by recommending that interventions of the malaria control programme in
Akwapim South Municipality be repositioned in a way that increases the performance and
effectiveness of the programme.
