Epidemiological and ecological evaluation of the impact of housing quality on malaria incidence in Lilongwe, Malawi

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  • April 28, 2023
Creator
  • Harrington, Meagan
    • College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Geography and Environment
Abstract
  • Across sub-Saharan Africa, malaria remains a significant cause of death across socioeconomic and demographic contexts, despite significant international investment in malaria prevention methods. Current interventions to reduce malaria incidence, including vaccination, are insufficient for malaria eradication, prompting further research into strategies to minimize malaria exposure. Recent vaccination efforts have shown some promising results, though vaccine efficacy is heterogeneous, potentially due to factors in the natural and built environment. The built environment and housing quality can have significant implications on mosquito entry to homes, particularly at night when mosquitoes are most active. Utilizing a series of descriptive analyses and Poisson regression models, this study explores how housing characteristics effect malaria incidence, and how housing modifies the efficacy of the malaria vaccine. Results from these analyses indicate that no windows, plastic/paper/carton windows, open windows, grass roofs, and visible holes are associated with increased malaria incidence compared to the current best practice, whereas cement walls are associated with decreased malaria incidence. We also found that no housing characteristic had a significant effect on vaccine efficacy, except for cement outer walls in the 4-dose treatment group. We can thus conclude that housing improvements offer a promising approach to malaria control and prevention, supporting existing findings in the literature.
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  • In Copyright
Advisor
  • Emch, Michael
    • College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Geography and Environment
Degree
  • Bachelor of Arts
Graduation year
  • 2023
Language
  • English

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