DAMAX Solutions conducted a population-based Malaria Behavioral Survey (MBS) in mainland Tanzania, building on the 2017 MBS to deepen insights into socio-demographic and ideational factors influencing malaria-related behaviors. The findings aim to guide programmatic interventions for improved health outcomes.
The cross-sectional survey covered all 26 regions of mainland Tanzania, employing a Population Proportion to Size (PPS) sampling method to ensure representativeness. A total of 3,300 households were surveyed, including 3,410 female respondents and 1,120 male respondents. Data collection was conducted using Open Data Kit (ODK) on portable devices, with 70 trained field staff gathering insights despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key achievements include successfully reaching all 26 regions of mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, overcoming pandemic-related restrictions while maintaining data integrity, ensuring timely data processing, and providing valuable insights into malaria behaviors, particularly among women of reproductive age, to support evidence-based malaria interventions.
This study plays a crucial role in shaping malaria prevention strategies, reinforcing the importance of data-driven decision-making in public health.