Background
Methods
Ethical considerations
Results
Study population characteristics
Variable | Overall (n = 148) | Limpopo (n = 70) | Mpumalanga (n = 38) | KZN (n = 40) | p value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | ||
Age in yearsa | |||||
≤ 30 | 8 (5.4) | 4 (5.8) | 2 (5.3) | 2 (5.0) | |
31–44 | 47 (32.0) | 25 (36.2) | 12 (31.6) | 10 (25.0) | |
45–59 | 76 (51.7) | 31 (44.9) | 21 (55.3) | 24 (60.0) | 0.797 |
≥ 60 | 16 (10.9) | 9 (13.0) | 3 (7.9) | 4 (10.0) | |
Home language | |||||
Afrikaans | 4 (2.7) | 2 (2.9) | 1 (2.6) | 1 (2.5) | |
English | 2 (1.4) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.6) | 1 (2.5) | |
SePedi | 22 (14.9) | 20 (29.0) | 2 (5.1) | 0 (0.0) | |
SeSotho | 5 (3.4) | 4 (5.8) | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0.0) | |
SiSwati | 17 (11.5) | 0 (0.0) | 17 (43.6) | 0 (0.0) | |
XiTsonga | 43 (29.1) | 28 (40.6) | 15 (38.5) | 0 (0.0) | < 0.001 |
TshiVhenda | 16 (10.8) | 15 (21.7) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.5) | |
IsiXhosa | 1 (0.7) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.5) | |
IsiZulu | 38 (25.7) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (5.1) | 36 (90.0) | |
Gender | |||||
Male | 116 (78.4) | 49 (71.0) | 30 (76.9) | 37 (92.5) |
0.025
|
Female | 32 (21.6) | 20 (29.0) | 9 (23.1) | 3 (7.5) | |
Education level attained | |||||
Postgraduate | 19 (12.8) | 10 (14.5) | 6 (15.4) | 3 (7.5) | |
Basic degree/diploma | 28 (18.9) | 15 (21.7) | 7 (18.0) | 6 (15.0) | 0.413 |
Secondary level | 99 (66.9) | 44 (63.8) | 26 (66.7) | 29 (72.5) | |
Primary level | 2 (1.4) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (5.0) | |
Job designation | |||||
Manager | 6 (4.1) | 2 (2.9) | 3 (7.9) | 1 (2.5) | |
EHP | 25 (16.9) | 14 (20.0) | 6 (15.8) | 5 (12.5) | |
Entomologist | 3 (2.0) | 2 (2.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.5) | |
Team Leader | 87 (58.8) | 42 (60.0) | 23 (60.5) | 22 (55.0) | |
Microscopist | 15 (10.1) | 9 (13.0) | 4 (10.5) | 2 (5.0) |
0.037
|
Other | 12 (8.1) | 1 (1.4) | 2 (5.3) | 9 (22.5) | |
Years of experiencea | |||||
≤ 9 | 44 (29.9) | 23 (33.8) | 16 (41.0) | 5 (12.5) | |
10–19 | 23 (15.7) | 9 (13.2) | 6 (15.4) | 8 (20.0) | 0.237 |
20–29 | 47 (32.0) | 20 (29.4) | 12 (30.8) | 15 (37.5) | |
≥ 30 | 33 (22.5) | 16 (23.5) | 5 (12.8) | 12 (30.0) | |
SAMEC membera | |||||
Yes | 2 (1.4) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.6) | 1 (2.5) | 0.28 |
No | 145 (98.6) | 68 (100) | 38 (97.4) | 39 (97.5) |
Healthcare workers’ knowledge, understanding and perceptions towards malaria elimination
Characteristic | Fully read it n (%) | Not read it at all n (%) | Partially read it n (%) | Total n (%) | p value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age (n = 44) | |||||
≤ 30 | 0 (0.0) | 1 (20.0) | 4 (80.0) | 5 (100) | |
31–44 | 2 (13.3) | 3 (20.0) | 10 (66.7) | 15 (100) | |
45–59 | 6 (31.6) | 5 (26.3) | 8 (42.1) | 19 (100) | |
60 + | 1 (20.0) | 1 (20.0) | 3 (60.0) | 5 (100) | 0.726 |
Gender (n = 44) | |||||
Female | 1 (10.0) | 3 (30.0) | 6 (60.0) | 10 (100) | |
Male | 8 (23.5) | 7 (20.6) | 19 (55.9) | 34 (100) | 0.602 |
Province (n = 44) | |||||
KwaZulu-Natal | 4 (23.5) | 2 (11.8) | 11 (64.7) | 17 (100) | |
Limpopo | 1 (6.7) | 6 (40.0) | 8 (53.3) | 15 (100) | |
Mpumalanga | 4 (33.3) | 2 (16.7) | 6 (50.0) | 12 (100) | 0.249 |
Job designation (n = 44) | |||||
Manager | 4 (66.7) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (33.3) | 6 (100) | |
EHP | 1 (8.3) | 2 (16.7) | 9 (75.0) | 12 (100) | |
Entomologist | 2 (100) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (100) | |
Microscopist | 0 (0.0) | 1 (50.0) | 1 (50.0) | 2 (100) | |
Team leader | 1 (5.6) | 7 (38.9) | 10 (55.6) | 18 (100) | |
Other | 1 (25.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (75.0) | 4 (100) |
0.010
|
Education (n = 44) | |||||
Secondary | 1 (5.0) | 8 (40.0) | 11 (55.0) | 20 (100) | |
Undergraduate | 4 (40.0) | 1 (10.0) | 5 (50.0) | 10 (100) | |
Postgraduate | 4 (28.6) | 1 (7.1) | 9 (64.3) | 14 (100) |
0.042
|
Possible definitions (Correct option highlighted) | Highest educational levels attained (overall n = 148) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary | Secondary | Undergraduate | Postgraduate | Total | p value | |
n = 2 (%) | n = 99 (%) | n = 28 (%) | n = 19 (%) | n = 148 (%) | ||
Permanent global cessation of malaria… | 0 (0.0) | 27 (27.3) | 3 (10.7) | 1 (5.3) | 31 (20.9) | |
No local malaria transmission… |
0 (0.0)
|
26 (26.3)
|
18 (64.3)
|
16 (84.2)
|
60 (40.5)
| |
Killing all malaria transmitting mosquitoes… | 0 (0.0) | 16 (16.2) | 2 (7.1) | 0 (0.0) | 18 (12.2) | |
Accelerated implementation of control interventions. | 0 (0.0) | 5 (5.1) | 3 (10.7) | 1 (5.3) | 9 (6.1) | |
All of the above | 0 (0.0) | 9 (9.1) | 1 (3.6) | 0 (0.0) | 10 (6.8) | |
None of the above | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (5.3) | 2 (1.4) | |
Don’t know | 2 (100) | 15 (15.2) | 1 (3.6) | 0 (0.0) | 18 (12.2) | < 0.001 |
Possible definitions (correct option highlighted) | Job designation (overall n = 148) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manager | EHP | Entomologist | Microscopist | Team Leader | Other | Total | p value | |
n = 6 (%) | n = 25 (%) | n = 3 (%) | n = 15 (%) | n = 87 (%) | n = 12 (%) | n = 148 (%) | ||
Permanent global cessation of malaria… | 0 (0.0) | 2 (8.0) | 1 (33.3) | 2 (13.3) | 26 (29.9) | 0 (0.0) | 31 (20.9) | |
No local malaria transmission… |
5 (83.3)
|
21 (84.0)
|
2 (66.7)
|
3 (20.0)
|
26 (29.9)
|
3 (25.0)
|
60 (40.5)
| |
Killing all malaria transmitting mosquitoes… | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (26.7) | 13 (14.9) | 1 (8.3) | 18 (12.2) | |
Accelerated implementation of control interventions | 1 (16.7) | 1 (4.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (13.3) | 5 (5.7) | 0 (0.0) | 9 (6.1) | |
All of the above | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (6.7) | 8 (9.2) | 1 (8.3) | 10 (6.8) | |
None of the above | 0 (0.0) | 1 (4.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.2) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (1.4) | |
Don’t know | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (20.0) | 8 (9.2) | 7 (58.3) | 18 (12.2) |
0.000
|
Healthcare workers’ perceived roles in implementing malaria elimination strategy
Ratings | Age grouping (overall n = 145) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
≤ 30 | 31–44 | 45–59 | 60 + | Total | p value | |
n = 8 (%) | n = 46 (%) | n = 75 (%) | n = 16 (%) | n = 145 (%) | ||
VD | 1 (12.5) | 6 (13.0) | 3 (4.0) | 1 (6.3) | 11 (7.6) | |
SD | 1 (12.5) | 12 (26.1) | 18 (24.0) | 3 (18.8) | 34 (23.4) | |
U | 1 (12.5) | 9 (19.6) | 20 (26.7) | 4 (25.0) | 34 (23.4) | |
SS | 4 (50.0) | 16 (34.8) | 23 (30.7) | 6 (37.5) | 49 (33.8) | |
VS | 1 (12.5) | 3 (6.5) | 11 (14.7) | 2 (12.5) | 17 (11.7) | |
0.769 |
Ratings | Years of experience (overall n = 145) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
≤ 10 | 10–19 | 20–29 | 30 + | Total | p value | |
n = 37 (%) | n = 24 (%) | n = 50 (%) | n = 34 (%) | n = 145 (%) | ||
VD | 5 (13.5) | 2 (8.3) | 2 (4.0) | 1 (2.9) | 10 (6.9) | |
SD | 9 (24.3) | 7 (29.2) | 10 (20.0) | 9 (26.5) | 35 (24.1) | |
U | 8 (21.6) | 4 (16.7) | 14 (28.0) | 8 (23.5) | 34 (23.4) | |
SS | 12 (32.4) | 9 (37.5) | 16 (32.0) | 12 (35.3) | 49 (33.8) | |
VS | 3 (8.1) | 2 (8.3) | 8 (16.0) | 4 (11.8) | 17 (11.7) | |
0.897 |
Ratings | Highest educational levels attained (overall n = 146) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary | Secondary | Undergraduate | Postgraduate | Total | p value | |
n = 2 (%) | n = 97 (%) | n = 28 (%) | n = 19 (%) | n = 146 (%) | ||
VD | 0 (0.0) | 7 (7.2) | 2 (7.1) | 2 (10.5) | 11 (7.6) | |
SD | 0 (0.0) | 19 (19.6) | 10 (35.7) | 6 (31.6) | 35 (24.0) | |
U | 2 (100) | 26 (26.8) | 3 (10.7) | 3 (15.8) | 34 (23.3) | |
SS | 0 (0.0) | 30 (30.9) | 12 (42.9) | 7 (36.8) | 49 (33.6) | |
VS | 0 (0.0) | 15 (15.5) | 1 (3.6) | 1 (5.3) | 17 (11.6) | |
0.179 |
Ratings | Job designation (overall n = 146) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manager | EHP | Entomologist | Microscopist | Team Leader | Other | Total | p value | |
n = 6 (%) | n = 25 (%) | n = 3 (%) | n = 15 (%) | n = 85 (%) | n = 12 (%) | n = 146 (%) | ||
VD | 1 (16.7) | 3 (12.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (5.9) | 2 (16.7) | 11 (7.6) | |
SD | 3 (50.0) | 9 (36.0) | 1 (33.3) | 6 (40.0) | 15 (17.6) | 1 (8.3) | 35 (24.0) | |
U | 0 (0.0) | 2 (8.0) | 1 (33.3) | 4 (26.7) | 20 (23.5) | 7 (58.3) | 34 (23.3) | |
SS | 1 (16.7) | 11 (44.0) | 1 (33.3) | 4 (26.7) | 30 (35.3) | 2 (16.7) | 49 (33.6) | |
VS | 1 (16.7) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (6.7) | 15 (17.6) | 0 (0.0) | 17 (11.6) | |
0.036
|
Perceived facilitators and barriers to implementing malaria elimination strategy
Statement | Rating | Years of experience | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
< 10 | 10–19 | 20–29 | 30 + | Total | p value | ||
n = 37 (%) | n = 24 (%) | n = 51 (%) | n = 35 (%) | n = 147 (%) | |||
Understanding of malaria epidemiology in South Africa (overall n = 147) | Very good | 8 (21.6) | 7 (29.2) | 9 (17.6) | 11 (31.4) | 35 (23.8) | |
Good | 17 (45.9) | 7 (29.2) | 29 (56.9) | 16 (45.7) | 69 (46.9) | ||
Average | 11 (29.7) | 7 (29.2) | 9 (17.6) | 4 (11.4) | 31 (21.1) | ||
Poor | 1 (2.7) | 1 (4.2) | 3 (5.9) | 2 (5.7) | 7 (4.8) | ||
Very poor | 0 (0.0) | 2 (8.3) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.9) | 3 (2.0) | ||
Don’t know | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.0) | 1 (2.9) | 2 (1.4) | 0.264 | |
Availability of effective malaria intervention tools (overall n = 147) | Very good | 2 (5.4) | 1 (4.2) | 9 (17.7) | 2 (5.7) | 14 (9.5) | |
Good | 11 (29.7) | 11 (45.8) | 24 (47.1) | 25 (71.4) | 71 (48.3) | ||
Average | 19 (51.4) | 10 (41.7) | 13 (25.5) | 5 (14.3) | 47 (32.0) | ||
Poor | 4 (10.8) | 1 (4.2) | 4 (7.8) | 2 (5.7) | 11 (7.5) | ||
Very poor | 1 (2.7) | 1 (4.2) | 1 (2.0) | 1 (2.9) | 4 (2.7) |
0.018
| |
Don’t Know | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | ||
Researchers’ attitudes towards malaria elimination (overall n = 147) | Very good | 1 (2.7) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.0) | 1 (2.9) | 3 (2.0) | |
Good | 0 (0.0) | 1 (4.2) | 4 (7.8) | 3 (8.6) | 8 (5.4) | ||
Average | 0 (0.0) | 2 (8.3) | 3 (5.9) | 2 (5.7) | 7 (4.8) | ||
Poor | 0 (0.0) | 4 (16.7) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (2.7) | ||
Very poor | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.7) |
0.016
| |
Don’t know | 36 (97.3) | 17 (70.8) | 42 (82.4) | 29 (82.9) | 124 (84.4) | ||
Malaria research skills to conduct studies to support malaria elimination (overall n = 147) | Very good | 1 (2.7) | 2 (8.3) | 9 (17.7) | 6 (17.1) | 18 (12.2) | |
Good | 10 (27.0) | 6 (25.0) | 9 (17.7) | 5 (14.3) | 30 (20.4) | ||
Average | 10 (27.0) | 4 (16.7) | 11 (21.6) | 3 (8.6) | 28 (19.1) | ||
Poor | 3 (8.1) | 8 (33.3) | 5 (14.3) | 21 (14.3) | |||
Very poor | 2 (5.4) | 1 (4.2) | 5 (9.8) | 1 (2.9) | 6 (4.1) | 0.077 | |
Don’t know | 11 (29.7) | 3 (12.5) | 2 (3.9) 15 (29.4) | 15 (42.9) | 44 (29.9) | ||
Availability of current research evidence to guide malaria elimination (overall n = 147) | Very good | 1 (2.7) | 1 (4.2) | 7(13.7) | 2 (5.7) | 11 (7.5) | |
Good | 7 (18.9) | 3 (12.5) | 12 (23.5) | 7 (20.0) | 29 (19.7) | ||
Average | 6 (16.2) | 6 (25.0) | 10 (19.6) | 7 (20.0) | 29 (19.7) | ||
Poor | 9 (24.3) | 9 (37.5) | 6 (11.8) | 5 (14.3) | 29 (19.7) | ||
Very poor | 1 (2.7) | 3 (12.5) | 2 (3.9) | 1 (2.9) | 7 (4.8) | 0.159 | |
Don’t know | 13 (35.1) | 2 (8.3) | 14 (27.5) | 13 (37.1) | 42 (28.6) | ||
Political leadership to support malaria elimination in South Africa (overall n = 147) | Very good | 1 (2.7) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (7.8) | 2 (5.7) | 7 (4.8) | |
Good | 2 (5.4) | 4 (16.7) | 19 (37.3) | 7 (20.0) | 32 (21.8) | ||
Average | 7 (18.9) | 6 (25.0) | 12 (23.5) | 6 (17.1) | 31 (21.1) | ||
Poor | 14 (37.8) | 6 (25.0) | 10 (19.6) | 13 (37.1) | 43 (29.3) | ||
Very poor | 8 (21.6) | 5 (20.8) | 4 (7.8) | 2 (5.7) | 19 (12.9) |
0.024
| |
Don’t know | 5 (13.5) | 3 (12.5) | 2 (3.9) | 5 (14.3) | 15 (10.2) | ||
Availability of funds to implement elimination policy (overall n = 146) | Very good | 0 (0.0) | 1 (4.2) | 1 (2.0) | 1 (2.9) | 3 (2.1) | |
Good | 1 (2.8) | 1 (4.2) | 6 (11.8) | 3 (8.6) | 11 (7.5) | ||
Average | 13 (36.1) | 3 (12.5) | 10 (19.6) | 10 (28.6) | 36 (24.7) | ||
Poor | 10 (27.8) | 11 (45.8) | 19 (37.3) | 10 (28.6) | 50 (34.3) | ||
Very poor | 4 (11.1) | 5 (20.8) | 8 (15.7) | 5 (14.3) | 22 (15.1) | 0.650 | |
Don’t know | 8 (22.2) | 3 (12.5) | 7 (13.7) | 6 (17.1) | 24 (16.4) | ||
Cross-border collaboration with neighbouring countries (overall n = 146) | Very good | 1 (2.7) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (4.0) | 1 (2.9) | 4 (2.7) | |
Good | 2 (5.4) | 5 (20.8) | 8 (16.0) | 11 (31.4) | 26 (17.8) | ||
Average | 7 (18.9) | 4 (16.7) | 15 (30.0) | 4 (11.4) | 30 (20.6) | ||
Poor | 12 (32.4) | 3 (12.5) | 11 (22.0) | 8 (22.9) | 34 (23.3) | ||
Very poor | 4 (10.8) | 7 (29.2) | 8 (16.0) | 5 (14.3) | 24 (16.4) | 0.119 | |
Don’t know | 11 (29.7) | 5 (20.8) | 6 (12.0) | 6 (17.1) | 28 (19.2) | ||
Collaborations between malaria programmes and research institutions for research support (overall n = 147) | Very good | 1 (2.7) | 0 (0.0) | 7 (13.7) | 3 (8.6) | 11 (7.5) | |
Good | 8 (21.6) | 6 (25.0) | 17 (33.3) | 13 (37.1) | 44 (29.9) | ||
Average | 10 (27.0) | 6 (25.0) | 6 (11.8) | 6 (17.1) | 28 (19.1) | ||
Poor | 2 (5.4) | 3 (12.5) | 6 (11.8) | 1 (2.9) | 12 (8.2) | ||
Very poor | 3 (8.1) | 1 (4.2) | 1 (2.0) | 1 (2.9) | 6 (4.1) | 0.380 | |
Don’t know | 13 (35.1) | 8 (33.3) | 14 (27.5) | 11 (31.4) | 46 (31.3) | ||
Community involvement in malaria interventions (overall n = 147) | Very Good | 4 (10.8) | 1 (4.2) | 7 (13.7) | 7 (20.0) | 19 (12.9) | |
Good | 17 (46.0) | 8 (33.3) | 22 (43.1) | 13 (37.1) | 60 (40.8) | ||
Average | 9 (24.3) | 9 (37.5) | 16 (31.4) | 8 (22.9) | 42 (28.6) | ||
Poor | 4 (10.8) | 5 (20.8) | 4 (7.8) | 7 (20.0) | 20 (13.6) | ||
Very poor | 2 (5.4) | 1 (4.2) | 1 (2.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (2.7) | 0.618 | |
Don’t know | 1 (2.7) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (1.4) | ||
Support from advocacy groups to maintain focus in malaria elimination (overall n = 147) | Very good | 1 (2.7) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (14.3) | 6 (4.1) | |
Good | 4 (10.8) | 1 (4.2) | 6 (11.8) | 3 (8.6) | 14 (9.5) | ||
Average | 8 (21.6) | 5 (20.8) | 5 (9.8) | 4 (11.4) | 22 (15.0) | ||
Poor | 4 (10.8) | 8 (33.3) | 4 (7.8) | 5 (14.3) | 21 (14.3) | ||
Very poor | 5 (13.5) | 3 (12.5) | 1 (2.0) | 1 (2.9) | 10 (6.8) |
0.003
| |
Don’t know | 15 (40.5) | 7 (29.2) | 35 (68.6) | 17 (48.6) | 74 (50.3) | ||
Strategy for population movement to curb importation of malaria cases (overall n = 147) | Very good | 1 (2.7) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (3.9) | 1 (2.9) | 4 (2.7) | |
Good | 2 (5.4) | 1 (4.2) | 8 (15.7) | 4 (11.4) | 15 (10.2) | ||
Average | 6 (16.2) | 2 (8.3) | 3 (5.9) | 7 (20.0) | 18 (12.2) | ||
Poor | 11 (29.7) | 6 (25.0) | 14 (27.5) | 7 (20.0) | 38 (25.9) | ||
Very poor | 9 (24.3) | 10 (41.7) | 6 (11.8) | 4 (11.4) | 29 (19.7) | 0.174 | |
Don’t know | 8 (21.6) | 5 (20.8) | 18 (35.3) | 12 (34.3) | 43 (29.3) |