An Interdisciplinary Approach to Malaria Burden in Sub-Saharan Africa

描述(申请人提供)：尽管进行了100多年的控制和根除努力，但据估计，今天死于疟疾的人比前几年更多。然而，正在为改善全球疟疾控制创造新的机会。例如，正在努力开发新药和疫苗，改进病媒控制战略，并在全球范围内增加经杀虫剂处理的蚊帐。虽然这些机会标志着对改善疟疾控制以及可能消除和根除疟疾的乐观态度，但这些战略的成功将取决于对人类行为的理解，以及对社会、文化、环境和其他背景影响疟疾负担的过程的了解。因此，需要进行新的研究，以建立与影响疟疾的行为、文化、社会和其他背景有关的跨学科数据的坚实基础。这些数据将有助于更好地了解影响可持续接受和使用疟疾控制战略的关键因素。目前的研究提案概述了一项培训计划，其长期目标是满足疟疾研究方面的这些需求。具体目标是：1)培训与疟疾管理和控制有关的行为、文化和社会因素；2)培训与多种环境(即家庭、社区、医疗保健环境)中疟疾管理和控制相关的人类行为的理解和建模能力的高级研究方法；3)利用理论知识和方法技能，在撒哈拉以南非洲疟疾流行国家发展国际研究和实地工作经验方面的专门知识。通过拟议的培训，申请者将通过以下方式推进控制疟疾的新战略：1)编写手稿，改善SSA目前对疟疾负担的了解；2)获得必要的技能，就影响疟疾流行国家疟疾负担的多种背景进行跨学科和高级研究。 公共卫生相关性：该培训计划涉及人口和行为科学处的议程，重点是利用跨学科的方法和先进的研究方法改善健康，以确定影响疟疾流行国家家庭和人口疟疾负担的多层次机制。它也与NlAlD的疟疾研究议程目标一致，因为它侧重于了解“现场现实”(现场条件)，包括导致疟疾负担的行为、文化和社会因素。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite over 100 years of control and eradication efforts, it is estimated that more people die from malaria today than in previous years. However, new opportunities are being made towards improved malaria control globally. For example, efforts are underway to develop new drugs and vaccines, to improve vector control strategies, and to increase insecticide treated bed-nets globally. While these opportunities signal optimism for improved malaria control, and possibly elimination and eradication, the success of these strategies will depend on understanding human behaviors, and knowledge of the process through which social, cultural, environmental, and other contexts affect malaria burden. As a result, new research is needed to establish a solid base of interdisciplinary data pertaining to behavioral, cultural, social and other contexts that influence malaria. These data will help to better understand the key factors that influence sustainable acceptance and use of malaria control strategies. The current research proposal outlines a training plan with a long-term goal of fulfilling these needs in malaria research. The specific goals are: 1) to train in behavioral, cultural, and social factors related to malaria management and control, 2) to train in advanced research methodology related to the understanding of and the ability to model human behavior surrounding malaria management and control in multiple contexts (i.e. family, communities, healthcare contexts), 3) to employ theoretical knowledge and methodological skills to develop expertise in international research and fieldwork experience in a malaria endemic country in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Through the proposed training, the applicant will advance new strategies to control malaria by: 1) preparing manuscripts that improve current knowledge of malaria burden in SSA, 2) acquiring the skills necessary to conduct interdisciplinary and advanced research on the multiple contexts that influence malaria burden in a malaria endemic country. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The training plan addresses the agenda of the Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch (DBSB) of the NICHD by its focus on improving health using an interdisciplinary approach and advanced research methodology to identify the multi-level mechanisms that influence malaria burden among families and populations in a malaria endemic country. It is also in agreement with NlAlD's Malaria Research Agenda Objectives by its focus on understanding "field reality" (conditions in the field), including behavioral, cultural, and social factors that contribute to malaria burden.