Malaria vector density entomological surveillance system evaluation, Zambezia, Mozambique, 2017-2019

Abstract

Introduction: Vector density is the degree of domiciliation of malaria vectors that influence the vectorial capacity of mosquito  populations in different regions and at different times. To understand whether the system meets the objectives that were set out, the  study was undertaken to evaluate the entomological vector density surveillance system (VDESS) of the National Malaria Control  Programme in Zambezia Province. June 2017-July 2019.

Methods: For evaluation of the surveillance system, data were extracted from the entomological surveillance system of Zambezia  Province in Mozambique from 2017 to 2019. The evaluation was based on criteria defined in the Updated Guidelines for Evaluating Public  Health Surveillance Systems from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Simplicity, flexibility, data quality, acceptability,  representativeness, and sensitivity attributes were evaluated.

Results: The database had 25,317 records of Anopheles mosquitoes, with morphological identification, from June 2017 to July 2019. The VDESS presented ten unfilled variables and required ≤ 2 technicians for  data collection. About 99.98% (253,202/253,230) of the fields were filled, rating it as acceptable and the system was able to report data to  the NMCP within a period of 30 to 90 days and was rated stable. The system was rated as sensitive as it had been programmed to capture  and identify 100% of Anopheles species.

Conclusion: The VDESS was useful, simple, sensitive, stable, acceptable, and with  excellent data quality. This system helped inform the quality of activities influencing malaria vector control measures and, therefore,   contributed to strengthening efforts to eliminate malaria in the country.