A Date with Science: A multidisciplinary approach to evaluation of malaria interventions in Burundi

This seminar is part of ‘A Date with Science‘: a series of academic seminars from ITM that take place every last Thursday of the month, online and live in Antwerp, followed by drinks.

Program:

Speaker: Three members of the ITM Outbreak Research Team: Soledad Colombe, Wim Van Bortel and Marie Meudec

Title: A multidisciplinary approach to evaluation of malaria interventions in Burundi

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Abstract:

ITM’s Outbreak Research Team (ORT) conducts interdisciplinary applied research to improve outbreak preparedness, response, recovery and resilience, with a focus on resource-poor settings. Three members of the ORT will investigate a compelling case study: a recent malaria outbreak in Burundi. Using this case, they will emphasize the importance of comprehensive malaria control strategies and the evaluation of multidisciplinary interventions.

Malaria is the leading cause of illness and death in Burundi and the country has a history of devastating malaria epidemics in the country’s highlands. Since 2004, the Burundian National Malaria Control Program (PNILP) has developed a national control strategy. The strategy is based on increased epidemiological surveillance, epidemiological stratification, improved case management with artemisinin-based combination therapy, strengthening of healthcare systems, massive and continuous distribution of Long Lasting Insect Repellent Nets (LLIN) and indoor focal spraying (IRS), and more recently community dialogue, in areas where risk is greatest and/or where outbreaks occur.

In the context of the ITM/MSF-OCB scientific collaboration on malaria in Burundi, we aimed to comprehensively evaluate the impact of malaria interventions implemented at different time points, both for prevention and outbreak control. Following a previous project that had evaluated the impact of mass distribution of mosquito nets on malaria incidence using routine surveillance data (DHIS2), we further evaluated the sustainability of mosquito nets over a 12-month period. In addition, we measured the impact of IRS interventions in two health districts using DHIS2 data. To support our analysis, we evaluated the DHIS2 malaria surveillance system. Finally, to understand the social impact and acceptance of these interventions, we examined people’s perceptions of the different malaria control interventions.

During this seminar, we present the results of these studies and discuss the need for comprehensive malaria control strategies and multidisciplinary intervention evaluation in the context of Burundi.

Short Bio:

• Soledad Colombe is an infectious disease epidemiologist with a background in veterinary medicine. She has experience as an epidemiologist in One Health and International Health in both academic and public health settings. With a strong analytical profile, she has a keen interest in interdisciplinary approaches, integrated surveillance and comprehensive evaluation methods for interventions. Her current projects focus on the use of mixed quantitative/qualitative methods for outbreak-prone diseases such as malaria, scabies and Rift Valley Fever, in both high- and low-income settings. Her work aims to bridge the gap between research, policy and practice to create healthier and more resilient communities.

• The work of Marie Meudec focuses on understanding and effectively addressing health problems, especially those associated with social inequality, racism, gender inequality and the complex social dimensions of health crises. She uses a variety of methodologies, including qualitative research, participatory techniques, and a critical perspective on global public health issues. Her recent work, among other things, has advocated feminist approaches to shaping global health policy, explored the implications of racism and health in public health research, and highlighted the importance of gender-sensitive strategies in addressing outbreaks. She is also involved in research projects investigating various diseases and outbreaks (scabies, malaria, Rift Valley fever, Bartonella quintana infection, AMR, COVID-19) in different settings (Belgium, DRC, Burundi, Rwanda and Canada). Motivated by her commitment to social justice, she strives to conduct impactful research that creates concrete social change.

• Wim Van Bortel is a PhD medical entomologist with more than 25 years of experience in research into vectors and vector-borne diseases in Europe, Africa and Asia. His research focuses on unraveling the role of arthropod vectors in transmission systems to improve the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases in a public health context. As a member of ITM’s outbreak investigation team, he aims to better understand the factors determining the transmission and spread of outbreak-prone diseases and to assess different strategies for outbreak prevention and control. He is currently involved in research projects on malaria, arboviruses, scabies, Bartonella quintana infection, Rift Valley fever and Leishmaniasis in different environments (Belgium, Burundi, DRC, Morocco, Rwanda, Nepal). He is also involved in monitoring Aedes albopictus, the tiger mosquito, in Belgium.