Background: Indoor residual spray (IRS), with appropriate insecticide, is an effective weapon for the control of malaria. Two rounds of indoor residual spray, with synthetic pyrethroid, are given in highly malaria endemic areas. It aims to prevent transmission of malaria by adult vector mosquitoes.
Aims: To assess the impact of indoor residual spray in the highly malaria-endemic villages of Kalol taluka in Gandhinagar district.
Design: High risk population for malaria, based on last three-year malaria situation.
Setting: Malaria endemic rural areas in Gandhinagar district where indoor residual spray was undertaken with synthetic pyrethroid in 2006 and 2007.
Study variables: Exploratory - Rural areas; Outcome - coverage, acceptance.
Analysis: Percentage and proportions.
Results: Prior to the introduction of synthetic pyrethroid, in 2005, the annual parasitic incidence of the sprayed villages was 33.4. It came down to 8.8 in 2006. Continuation of this strategy in the same villages further brought down the annual parasitic incidence to 1.5 in 2007. A similar trend of steady decline was observed in actual numbers of cases and other malariometric indices as well.
Conclusion: IRS, it still has a major role in the control of malaria if implemented with proper supervision, better coverage and community participation.
Keywords: Annual parasitic incidence; indoor residual spray; malaria.