Beyond Mosquito Bites: A Systematic Literature Review on Malaria Prevention Behavior Intervention

Abstract

Malaria is a significant health problem, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, regardless of it being a preventable disease. Despite numerous measures taken by health-related agencies, malaria cases continue to increase globally. These interventions are intended to change the behaviors of individuals and communities to reduce the risk of malaria transmission, especially in the long run. However, studies that systematically review existing literature on behavioral intervention for malaria prevention are limited. Hence, this systematic review aims to highlight and synthesize studies implementing behavioral interventions to prevent malaria infection among at-risk communities. This study includes English articles from Scopus and Web of Science, between the years 2009 to 2022, conducted based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 2020 (PRISMA 2020). Out of the initial 67 articles identified through the screening process, four eligible studies of good to medium quality were selected for review. Three main themes were determined based on the deductive thematic analysis: i) tailor-made content, ii) community engagement and outreach, and iii) interpersonal communication. Based on an impact analysis on the four studies, this review concludes that behavioral interventions are an effective strategy to combat the prevalence of malaria worldwide. Hence, communities at risk of malaria would benefit from intervention programs that tap into behavioral change approaches inclusive of the three main themes identified in this review.