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Review
. 2014 Dec 4:13:473.
doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-473.

Operational research on malaria control and elimination: a review of projects published between 2008 and 2013

Shui-sen Zhou, Aafje E C Rietveld, Mar Velarde-Rodriguez, Andrew R Ramsay, Shao-sen Zhang, Xiao-nong Zhou, Richard E Cibulskis  1
Affiliations
Review

Operational research on malaria control and elimination: a review of projects published between 2008 and 2013

Shui-sen Zhou et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

A literature review for operational research on malaria control and elimination was conducted using the term 'malaria' and the definition of operational research (OR). A total of 15 886 articles related to malaria were searched between January 2008 and June 2013. Of these, 582 (3.7%) met the definition of operational research. These OR projects had been carried out in 83 different countries. Most OR studies (77%) were implemented in Africa south of the Sahara. Only 5 (1%) of the OR studies were implemented in countries in the pre-elimination or elimination phase. The vast majority of OR projects (92%) were led by international or local research institutions, while projects led by National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCP) accounted for 7.8%. With regards to the topic under investigation, the largest percentage of papers was related to vector control (25%), followed by epidemiology/transmission (16.5%) and treatment (16.3%). Only 19 (3.8%) of the OR projects were related to malaria surveillance. Strengthening the capacity of NMCPs to conduct operational research and publish its findings, and improving linkages between NMCPs and research institutes may aid progress towards malaria elimination and eventual eradication world-wide.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Selection of malaria OR projects that were included in the analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Regions where OR projects have been implemented, 2008–2013. AMR: Region of the Americas EMR: Eastern Mediterranean Region. WPR: Western Pacific Region SEAR: South-East Asia Region.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Type of institution leading the implementation of OR projects, 2008–2013.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Study methodologies commonly used in OR studies, 2008–2013.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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