Effectiveness of District Health Systems in Malaria Control in Kericho District, Kenya

Abstract

This study investigated effectiveness of malaria control in Kericho District in Western Kenya highlands which is prone to occurrences of malaria epidemics. Data on indicators of effectiveness of Malaria Control (EMC) were obtained from district’s health facilities and 300 sampled household heads from 7 divisions of the district participated in the survey questionnaire measuring their knowledge of malaria control. The data was analyzed using time series graph and descriptive statistics. The results showed (EMC) ; an increasing trend of malaria morbidity at 20.64%annually in 1999-2005, hospitalization cases increased from 926 to 3167 in the surveillance period 1988 and 2002, case fatality rates ranged between 1 and 44 per 1000 annually; an average of 17 persons per 100 in all divisions needed and received treatment for malaria annually in 1999-2005 and indoor residual spraying of houses was 80% effective, effectiveness of anti-malaria drugs ranged between 60% and 80% and 31.2% of all medical staff was trained on malaria control and 5.9% of all households used ITNs regularly. These findings imply low effectiveness of DHS in malaria control thus a need to step up malaria control according to NMC strategy (2001-2010) guidelines so that vision 2010-2030 Millennium Development Goals can be tenable