Combining Malaria control with rural electrification: Social and behavioural factors that influenced the design, use and sustainability of solar-powered mosquito trapping systems (SMoTS) for Malaria elimination on Rusinga Island, Western Kenya

Abstract

The research on which this thesis is based was carried out as part of a multidisciplinary project, “SolarMal”, which aimed to evaluate proof of principle for the elimination of malaria from Rusinga Island by augmenting the existing national malaria control programme tools with mass trapping of mosquitoes. As electricity was required to run the mosquito traps and most residents had no electricity, solar systems were also installed,providing lighting and telephone charging as well. Although the main objective of the project was to control malaria and hence a public benefit, the solar-powered mosquito trapping systems (SMoTs) additionally provided a private benefit due to house electrification. Due to this uniqueness, while the theoretical basis of public health research has been based largely on behavioural psychology and biomedical science, this thesis included innovation and social dilemma theories to understand the complex interactions of mobilising diverse actors for social change. The SolarMal project had Entomology,Parasitology, Epidemiology and Health and Demographic Surveillance (HDSS), and Social Sciences components. The research towards this thesis was nested within the Social Studies component of which I was a member. Alongside outcome measures of malaria parasitaemia and entomological data, sociological studies investigated behavioural and contextual factors in the design and use of solar-powered mosquito trapping systems (SMoTS) and how to improve coverage, adherence and sustainability.