Investigator(s)
| Submitter |
Kinley - Penjor Faculty of Nursing and Public Health, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan Kinley - Penjor 
|
| Principal Investigator |
Kinley - Penjor Faculty of Nursing and Public Health, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan Kinley - Penjor
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Deki - Yangzom CDD, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health Deki - Yangzom
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| Co-Investigator(s) |
Kesang - Wangchuk Royal Centre for Disease Control Kesang - Wangchuk
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Tobgye - None VDCP, Gelephu Tobgye - None
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| Co-Investigator(s) |
Kinley - Wangdi Senior Research Fellow HEAL Global Research Centre Health Research Institute | Faculty of Health Kinley - Wangdi
|
Title(s) and abstract
| Scientific title | Mobility Patterns, KAP, and Malaria Elimination: A Study Among Migrant Populations in Bhutan |
| Public title | migrant malaria study |
| Background | Since 2010, the Asia Pacific Region has made tremendous progress towards elimination with cases halving and deaths reducing by almost 90% (2). In 2014, 21 countries from the Asia Pacific committed to malaria elimination by 2030 (2). However, despite significant progress over the last one decade, the progress in malaria elimination has stalled. And malaria control and its ultimate elimination is confounded by complex challenges (3). The increasing number of countries in elimination or post-elimination phase are challenged by cross border malaria transmission which has emerged as major obstacle to elimination goal in Asia pacific region (3). The two WHO South-East Asia region (SEAR) countries of Bhutan and Timor Leste in 2020 missed elimination targets which was attributed to imported transmission amidst COVID19 (4) while Nepal, despite successful reduction of cases with target to interrupt local transmission has seen increased imported malaria from India (5). This calls for in-depth review and investigation on the problem to gain insights and predict the potential prevention, control opportunities and consequences of cross border malaria to malaria elimination efforts. The increased vulnerability to malaria infection due to favorable ecological condition and poor healthcare and surveillance system in border population can be aggravated by the knowledge gaps and misconceptions about malaria transmission, symptoms, and prevention. Understanding the knowledge gaps and behaviors that contribute to malaria transmission of border communities regarding malaria is crucial for gaining insights into malaria transmission dynamics in border areas and for developing effective control strategies with understanding of population movements. |
| Objectives | Primary Objective To assess the mobility pattern and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to malaria among migrants population at the border crossing in Bhutan. Secondary Objectives • To estimate proportion of parasitemia amongst foreign migrants’ population screened for malaria at the Bhutan – India border • To evaluate KAP and associated factors among foreign migrants population entering through Bhutan-India border and working in Bhutan • To explore mobility pattern of migrant works to determine risk of cross border malaria transmission • To provide valuable data for designing effective malaria prevention and control campaigns in the border region. |
| Study Methods | This will be an observational study using a KAP survey and complemented by a retrospective analysis of health screening data obtained from private diagnostics will be conducted. |
| Expected outcomes and use of results | 1. Characteristic cross border migrants’ mobility pattern and its role in cross border malaria transmission to inform strategic policy and programs to address challenges to malaria elimination 2. Identify and delineate the key risk factors that influence and contribute to cross border malaria transmission 3. Identify and evaluate the strengths and weakness of the current surveillance strategies implemented for cross border malaria elimination 4. Provide evidence and best practices to develop roadmap to tackle cross border malaria transmission to achieve malaria elimination |
| Keywords | cross border malaria, malaria elimination, Bhutan |
Research Details
| Student research | Yes |
| Institution: TBC | |
| Academic degree: Other | |
| Supervisor of the student(s) | |
| Full Name and title: Dr Kinley Wangdi | |
| Email: Kinley.Wangdi@canberra.edu.au | |
| Start Date | 13-Dec-2024 |
| End Date | 31-Dec-2025 |
| Key Implementing Institution | Ministry of Health |
| Multi-country research | No |
| Nationwide research | Yes, with randomly selected geographical areas |
| Bhutan, Bhutan, Bhutan | |
| Research Domain(s) | Communicable Disease Research |
| Research field(s) | Malaria |
| Involves human subjects | Yes |
| Population-Based Survey | |
| Data Collection | Primary and secondary data |
| Proposal reviewed by other Committee | No |