Exchange study reports that in Africa, participatory communication in malaria control matters because without genuine community understanding and engagement with the problem of malaria, external efforts will fail.
A prevailing preference for examining mosquito behaviour rather than human behaviour has meant approaches that engage people are sometimes neglected to the detriment of malaria control efforts. A range of communication tools exist to encourage participation at community level, leading to improved understanding of the causes and consequences of malaria, and identification of potential solutions. These tools must be applied effectively and skilfully according to the local context. Current malaria control tools for prevention can be effective, but are sometimes inappropriate in local contexts. So interaction with communities to identify interventions they will actually use is vital. Collective understanding of the problem and decision making about how to address it needs to become part of community life and be sustained (Mehra, no date). Encouraging protection of the most vulnerable community members is a key part of this.
Diagnosing and treating malaria quickly with the right drugs is vital, but constraints in doing so are many and hugely varied. Factors include availability and appropriateness of services, gender relationships in the home and community, and costs of drugs. Communication around treatment needs to acknowledge the complex social and cultural environment to address these broader influences.
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