Impact of malaria age-appropriate song on malaria prevention in Zimbabwe

Background
Malaria continues to be a major public health concern principally in developing
countries. In 2018 close to 228 million cases and 405 000 deaths were recorded
globally (1). The disease is pre-dominant in the tropical regions and has significant
prominence in the sub-Saharan region (2) with 93% of the cases and 94% of the
malaria related mortality being recorded therein (1). Mortality rates have been
generally high in children below the age of 5 years. In 2019 children constituted 67%
(274030) of the overall malaria deaths ( In Zimbabwe 50% of the population is at risk
of infection with the disease being endemic in most low-lying areas (3). According to
WHO (4) the number of people at risk of contracting malaria has risen to 79% in
Zimbabwe.

Although vector control using insecticides has become the backbone of malaria
control globally (4). However, this method need to be complimented with other
preventive methods. Health promotion using a song in participatory research is one of
such methods that have been tried. Musical interventions have been used to prevent or
manage disease through promoting behavior change in adolescents and adults. Some
studies have noted that children learn concepts more quickly and easily when they
participate actively in a game or singing or anything they participate actively. They
observe and imitate their teachers, parents and other children. In agreement Allan (6)
noted that music and songs can significantly increase recall and comprehension of a
product with songs or “jingles” specifically meant to persuade audience to purchase
that product. Thus this study seeks to assess the impact of participatory research using
a song on the level of malaria knowledge among children aged 10-11 in Zimbabwe

Aims or research questions being addressed

Aim Research question

To develop a song and determine the
impact of the song as a health promotion
tool for malaria transmission prevention
knowledge to school children aged 10-12
years in Zimbabwe
What is the impact of using a song as a
health promotion tool for passing on
malaria knowledge to school children
aged between 10-12 years of age ?

Project design
This going to be a longitudinal study where malaria knowledge will be assessed prior
to intervention and after intervention among children aged 10-12 years. Knowledge
assessment will be done using a structured questionnaire that will be administered by
the researcher. The structured questionnaire will be designed using the information
that will have gathered through conducting a focus group discussion with the adult
malaria key informants. A Chi squared distribution and Fishers exact test will be used
to compare level of knowledge between various groups. Conclusion will be drawn
through comparing the level of knowledge between control (no intervention arm) and
the experimental arm (intervention arm) groups.

Approach
We will employ qualitative research method such as the focus group discussion
method to design malaria questionnaire for children. The method is good for studying
opinion of the community. The preventive song that will be designed will originate
from the community's opinion and participatory research has produced very good
results.We will allow the community to detect the contents of the song.

Expected out comes

A baseline song for the first time designed by the community on malaria prevention.
Your role in project
The lead principal investigator will lead all the research processes in the study.

Reference

1. WHO. World malaria report 2020. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020.

2. Abiodun, G. J., Njabo, K. Y., Witbooi, P. J., Adeola, A. M., Fuller, T. L., Okosun,
K. O., ... & Botai, J. O. (2018). Exploring the influence of daily climate variables on
malaria transmission and abundance of Anopheles arabiensis over Nkomazi local
municipality, mpumalanga province, South Africa. Journal of environmental and
public health, 2018.

3. Midzi S, Teveredzi V, Mudyiradima R, Chihanga S, Netsa M, Mugove A, et al.

Zimbabwe Roll Back Consultative Mission (Reaping): Essential actions to support the
attainment of the Abuja Targets. Harare: Roll Back Malaria; 2004.

4. World Health Organization. (2016). World health statistics 2016: monitoring

health for the SDGs sustainable development goals. World Health Organization

5. White, N. J., Pukrittayakamee, S., Hien, T. T., Faiz, M. A., Mokuolu, O. A., &
Dondorp, A. M. Malaria. Lancet [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2017 Jul 10]; 383 (9918): 723-
35.

6. Allan D. Efects of popular music in advertising on attention and memory.

J Advertising Res. 2006;46:434–44.