This report presents the findings of the 2012 Malawi Malaria Indicator Survey (2012 MMIS) conducted by the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) of the Ministry of Health from 28 March through 15 May 2012. The government of Malawi provided financial assistance in terms of in-kind contribution of personnel, office space, and logistical support. Financial support for the survey was provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from President’s Malaria Initiative funds through ICF International. ICF International also provided technical assistance, medical supplies, and equipment for the survey through the MEASURE DHS program, which is funded by USAID and is designed to assist developing countries in collecting data on fertility, family planning, and maternal and child health. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID. The Roll Back Malaria Monitoring & Evaluation Reference Group (RBM-MERG), a global technical advisory group providing monitoring and evaluation guidance for malaria control programmes, recommends that the MIS be conducted every two years within six weeks of the end of the rainy season in countries with endemic malaria transmission patterns, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa. For these reasons, in 2012, the NMCP conducted the second nationwide Malaria Indicator Survey in Malawi. The 2012 MIS used a standard set of instruments and protocol developed by RBM-MERG. These tools are largely based on the collective experience gained from the DHS and MIS surveys and are presented as a package of materials to promote standardized survey management and data collection methodology. The package also includes standardized measurement of malaria parasite and anaemia prevalence among target populations to derive the malaria-related burden at the community level. The key objectives of the 2012 MIS were to: Measure the level of ownership and use of mosquito nets Assess coverage of the intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women Identify treatment practices, including the use of specific antimalarial medications to treat malaria among children under 5 Measure the prevalence of malaria and anaemia among children age 6-59 months Assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of malaria in the adult population Measure trends in key malaria indicators since the 2010 MDHS The 2012 MIS was designed to produce most of the key malaria indicators for the country as a whole, for urban and rural areas separately, and for each of three regions in Malawi: Northern, Central, and Southern.
