Since 1995, the NMCP and its partners have been scaling up malaria interventions in all parts of the country. To determine the progress made in malaria control and prevention in Uganda, the 2009 Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey (UMIS) was designed to provide data on key malaria indicators, including mosquito net ownership and use, as well as prompt treatment using ACT. The key objectives of the 2009 UMIS were to: • Measure the extent of ownership and use of mosquito bed nets • Assess coverage of the intermittent preventive treatment programme for pregnant women • Identify practices used to treat malaria among children under age 5 and the use of specific antimalarial medications • Measure the prevalence of malaria and anaemia among children age 0-59 months • Determine the species of plasmodium parasite most prevalent in Uganda • Assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding malaria in the general population Methodology of The Uganda Lalaria Indicatior Survey The 2009 UMIS was carried out during November and December 2009, using a nationally representative sample of 4,760 households in 170 census enumeration areas. All women age 15-49 years in these households were eligible for individual interviews, during which they were asked questions about malaria prevention during pregnancy and treatment of childhood fevers. In addition, the survey included testing for anaemia and malaria among children age 0-59 months using finger (or heel) prick blood samples. Test results for anaemia (using the HemoCue portable machine) and malaria (using malaria RDT) were available immediately and were provided to the children’s parents or guardians. Thick and thin blood smears were also made in the field and transported to the Uganda Malaria Surveillance Project Molecular Laboratory at the Mulago Hospital in Kampala where they were tested for the presence of malaria parasites and where the species of plasmodium parasite was determined. Survey Organization The 2009 UMIS was implemented by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and the Uganda Malaria Surveillance Project (UMSP) on behalf of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP). UBOS was responsible for general administrative management of the survey, including overseeing the day-to-day operations, designing the survey, and processing the data. UBOS assisted NMCP in the design of the UMIS, especially in the area of sample design and selection. In this regard, they provided the necessary maps and lists of households in the selected sample points. NMCP took primary responsibility for organizing the Technical Working Group, developing the survey protocol, and ensuring its approval by the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology prior to the data collection. Also, NMCP helped UBOS recruit, train, and monitor field staff and provided the medicines to treat children who tested positive for malaria during the survey. The Uganda Malaria Surveillance Project (UMSP) Molecular Laboratory at the Mulago Hospital complex in Kampala trained field technicians and implemented the microscopic reading of the malaria slides to determine malaria parasite infection. Technical assistance was provided by ICF Macro. ICF Macro staff assisted with overall survey design, sample design, questionnaire design, field staff training, field work monitoring, collection of biomarkers (anaemia testing, rapid diagnostic testing for malaria, and making and reading blood smears), data processing, data analysis, and report preparation. Financial support for the survey was provided by the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
