Promoting community knowledge and action for malaria control in rural Cambodia: potential contributions of Village Malaria Workers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cambodia has been investing in Village Malaria Workers (VMWs) to improve malaria case management in rural areas. This study assessed the quality of the VMWs’ services compared to those by a government-run health center from the persp...

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Main Authors: Lim Sachiko, Yasuoka Junko, Poudel Krishna C, Ly Po, Nguon Chea, Jimba Masamine
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2012-08-01
Series:BMC Research Notes
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/5/405
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author Lim Sachiko
Yasuoka Junko
Poudel Krishna C
Ly Po
Nguon Chea
Jimba Masamine
author_facet Lim Sachiko
Yasuoka Junko
Poudel Krishna C
Ly Po
Nguon Chea
Jimba Masamine
author_sort Lim Sachiko
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cambodia has been investing in Village Malaria Workers (VMWs) to improve malaria case management in rural areas. This study assessed the quality of the VMWs’ services compared to those by a government-run health center from the perspective of community members. We focused on VMWs’ contribution to promote their action to control malaria. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Kampot province in 2009. Interviews were conducted at every accessible household in a village with VMWs (n = 153) and a village with a health center (n = 159), using interviewer administered questionnaire. Preference of the interview was given to female household head. Multiple regression analyses were run to compare knowledge about malaria, preventive measures taken, and time before first malaria treatment between the two villages.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The villagers perceived the VMWs’ services equally as good as those provided by the health center. After controlling for confounding factors, the following indicators did not show any statistical significance between two villages: community members’ knowledge about malaria transmission (AOR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.30-1.22) and government-recommended antimalarial (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.25-1.23), preventive measures taken (Beta = −0.191, p = 0.315), and time before the first treatment (Beta = 0.053, p = 0.721). However, knowledge about malaria symptoms was significantly lower in the village with VMWs than the village with a health center (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.19-0.83).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>VMWs played an equivalent role as the health center in promoting malaria knowledge, action, and effective case management. Although VMWs need to enhance community knowledge about malaria symptoms, the current government policy on VMWs is reasonable and should be expanded to other malaria endemic villages.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-9629925d12974c8b8fb627ea7c5acc1a2022-12-21T20:47:05ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002012-08-015140510.1186/1756-0500-5-405Promoting community knowledge and action for malaria control in rural Cambodia: potential contributions of Village Malaria WorkersLim SachikoYasuoka JunkoPoudel Krishna CLy PoNguon CheaJimba Masamine<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cambodia has been investing in Village Malaria Workers (VMWs) to improve malaria case management in rural areas. This study assessed the quality of the VMWs’ services compared to those by a government-run health center from the perspective of community members. We focused on VMWs’ contribution to promote their action to control malaria. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Kampot province in 2009. Interviews were conducted at every accessible household in a village with VMWs (n = 153) and a village with a health center (n = 159), using interviewer administered questionnaire. Preference of the interview was given to female household head. Multiple regression analyses were run to compare knowledge about malaria, preventive measures taken, and time before first malaria treatment between the two villages.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The villagers perceived the VMWs’ services equally as good as those provided by the health center. After controlling for confounding factors, the following indicators did not show any statistical significance between two villages: community members’ knowledge about malaria transmission (AOR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.30-1.22) and government-recommended antimalarial (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.25-1.23), preventive measures taken (Beta = −0.191, p = 0.315), and time before the first treatment (Beta = 0.053, p = 0.721). However, knowledge about malaria symptoms was significantly lower in the village with VMWs than the village with a health center (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.19-0.83).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>VMWs played an equivalent role as the health center in promoting malaria knowledge, action, and effective case management. Although VMWs need to enhance community knowledge about malaria symptoms, the current government policy on VMWs is reasonable and should be expanded to other malaria endemic villages.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/5/405MalariaVillage Malaria WorkersTreatment-seeking behaviorKnowledgePreventive measuresSymptomsAntimalarial drugCommunityCambodiaPublic health
spellingShingle Lim Sachiko
Yasuoka Junko
Poudel Krishna C
Ly Po
Nguon Chea
Jimba Masamine
Promoting community knowledge and action for malaria control in rural Cambodia: potential contributions of Village Malaria Workers
BMC Research Notes
Malaria
Village Malaria Workers
Treatment-seeking behavior
Knowledge
Preventive measures
Symptoms
Antimalarial drug
Community
Cambodia
Public health
title Promoting community knowledge and action for malaria control in rural Cambodia: potential contributions of Village Malaria Workers
title_full Promoting community knowledge and action for malaria control in rural Cambodia: potential contributions of Village Malaria Workers
title_fullStr Promoting community knowledge and action for malaria control in rural Cambodia: potential contributions of Village Malaria Workers
title_full_unstemmed Promoting community knowledge and action for malaria control in rural Cambodia: potential contributions of Village Malaria Workers
title_short Promoting community knowledge and action for malaria control in rural Cambodia: potential contributions of Village Malaria Workers
title_sort promoting community knowledge and action for malaria control in rural cambodia potential contributions of village malaria workers
topic Malaria
Village Malaria Workers
Treatment-seeking behavior
Knowledge
Preventive measures
Symptoms
Antimalarial drug
Community
Cambodia
Public health
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/5/405
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