Background: In many pre-elimination countries, malaria cases among mobile and migrant populations (MMPs) represent a large and important reservoir for transmission, if undetected or treated.
Objectives: 1) To identify which intersectoral actions have been taken and how they are applied to intervention(s) targeted at the MMPs and 2) To assess the effect of long-lasting insecticide treated bed net (LLINs/ITNs) utilization intervention targeted to these special group of populations.
Methods: Relevant studies were searched in the health-related databases, the international organization/agency and the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) websites.
Results: A broad variety of stakeholders were identified for the multisectoral action to defeat malaria amongst MMPs. LLINs/ITNs targeted for distribution to the MMPs were supported by the multiple stakeholders. The various multisectoral actions were often more vertically organized and not fully integrated in a systemic approach of a given country or subnational administrative setting. The estimates of net ownership amongst MMPs were available in 14 studies from 9 countries. Overall, a pooled estimate was 44%(95%CI:35-52%), indicating inadequate level of net utilization in particular of personal protective measure as a vector control activity amongst these MMPs. There are between/within-country variations, ranging from 16% to 75% of net utilization rate. One study showed a gap between willingness to buy LLINs/ITNs and affordability (88.5% vs. 60.2%). Interventions targeting to the use of LLINs/ ITNs were two times more likely to reduce malaria incidence amongst the targeted MMPs (summary OR:2.1,95%CI:1.43-2.6). The analysis did not reveal any information on how much reduction of malaria transmission was achieved.
Conclusion: Intervention of the use of LLINs/ITNs supported by the multiple stakeholders had a significant impact on reduction of malaria cases in the targeted MMPs. There is a need for future well designed studies from different countries and also in view of estimating the impact on the reduction of transmission.