Surveys
Numerous surveys have been conducted in Zambia to that assess the coverage of malaria interventions as part of the Ministry of Health planned activities and through the work of many RBM partners.
Among household surveys, the 2006 National Malaria Indicator Survey is the most recent measurement of malaria intervention coverage. This survey also measured malaria parasite and anemia prevalence among children under five years of age. (See summary box below) The Demographic and Health Survey 2007 is currently in the field and includes the core malaria module assessing malaria interventions coverage. Previous surveys include the RBM baseline and follow up surveys in the 10 sentinel districts, Society for Family Health periodic evaluations, the 2001-02 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), the UNICEF-sponsored Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and several other smaller scale surveys.
A number of facility surveys have been conducted in Zambia in recent years. In 2006, the Ministry of Health conducted a national health facility census with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In December 2005, the Health Services and Systems Project (HSSP) conducted a large-scale baseline facility survey assessing many key malaria service delivery issues, including IPT and provider practices for antimalarial treatment. The RBM baseline and follow up surveys present the most comprehensive facility assessments for malaria. Other recent published survey work provides insight in to provider prescribing behaviour for antimalaria treatment.
| In 2006, recognizing that ongoing evaluation of the rapid scale up for impact (SUFI) approach was essential for understanding progress in the fight against malaria, Zambia completed the first-ever nationally representative household survey that assessed coverage of the key malaria interventions in combination with measurement of malaria-related burden using malaria parasite and anemia prevalence testing among children under age five, collecting data viahand-held computers. The survey was developed and conducted by the Ministry of Health’s NMCC, District Health Management Teams, and several key malaria partners including the Central Statistical Office, the Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA) at PATH, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the University of Zambia (UNZA). |