Abstract

PINEDA GRANADOS, Francy Y.; VALERO, Victoria  and  AGUDELO C., Carlos A.. Evaluation of the malaria control program in the Colombian Amazon region. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2004, vol.6, suppl.1, pp.40-49. ISSN 0124-0064.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the malaria control program in the Amazonas department, Colombia, before and after the creation of the General System for Social Security in Health (SGSSS). METHODS: The study was carried out in the municipalities of Leticia an Puerto Nariño, and in the villages of Tarapacá and La Pedrera with the participation of the people and institutions related to malaria control in the department. Primary and qualitative information was collected through semi-structured interviews applied to the people, and through surveys applied to both institutions and selected focal groups from the community. RESULTS: The malaria control program in the department of Amazonas has had great difficulties, both before and after the creation of the SGSSS, particularly related to the geographic accessibility, the displacement of population, the lack of continuity of the program, and the follow-up and evaluation of control activities. Currently, the municipalities require administrative support from the departmental health secretariat, human resources are insufficient and of high rotation, there is little citizen and intersectorial participation and scarce resources are allocated to promotion and prevention activities. Insurance to the SGSSS is insufficient and health insurance companies are inadequately managed, there is little structural capacity of health service providing institutions (IPS) and the diagnostic network has low coverage. CONCLUSIONS: The people and institutions involved with malaria control are not articulated in a specific plan which can guarantee the adequate malaria control. The study demonstrates that the SGSSS has not contributed in a decisive manner to improve the malaria transmission situation in the Colombian Amazon region.

Keywords : Malaria; prevention and control; ecosystem; disease vectors; focus groups.

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