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Malaria Prevention: Are High-Risk Households in Kenya Receiving Treatments?

*Dominic D LaRoche, Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Statistics, University of Arizona 
Melanie L Bell, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona 
Kacey C Ernst, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona 

Keywords: Malaria, Long-lasting insecticidal nets, indoor residual spray, Prevention, policy evaluation, spatial risk mapping, topography

Malaria is a significant threat to public health in countries where the disease is either endemic or epidemic. Concerted efforts have been made in the past decade to reduce and in some cases eliminate malaria with the use of prophylactic interventions. The World Health Organization recommends preferential administration of interventions to pregnant women and infants because of the high disease burden borne by this group. However, previous research has identified the benefit of additionally targeting interventions at those with the highest risk of infections. We use a topographic wetness index, combined with a household census of intervention use, at two sites in Kenya to assess intervention administration. We find preferential administration of interventions at the high-elevation epidemic-prone site but not at the low-elevation endemic site. Our results have important implications for assessing the administration of interventions in the battle against malaria.