Does caesarean section have an impact on exclusive breastfeeding? Evidence from four Southeast Asian countries.

Background: The effect of caesarean section (CS) on breastfeeding initiation has been extensively studied, but its influence on exclusive breastfeeding practices remains inconclusive. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of CS on exclusive breastfeeding using evidence from four countries in the Southeast Asian region.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used secondary data obtained from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between 2016 and 2022 in four countries within the Southeast Asian Region.

Effectiveness of an expanded role for community health workers on malaria blood examination rates in malaria elimination settings in Myanmar: an open stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: As Greater Mekong Subregion countries approach malaria elimination, the motivation and social role of community health workers (CHWs), and malaria blood examination rates, have declined in parallel with decreasing malaria burden. To address this issue, a health system model which expanded the role for CHWs was co-designed with communities and health stakeholders in the Mekong Subregion and field-tested in Myanmar.

Methods: An open stepped-wedge cluster-randomised (at the village-level) controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.

Demographic and socioeconomic obstacles to access to malaria services for Myanmar migrants in Thailand.

Background: Typically mobile and vulnerable, migrants face significant barriers to access to routine malaria prevention, diagnostics and treatment, which leads to unchecked malaria transmission, particularly in border regions with a high population displacement. This study aimed to investigate the demographic and socioeconomic obstacles to access to malaria services among Myanmar migrants residing in the Thailand-Myanmar border areas.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in early 2024 across three districts near the Thailand-Myanmar border.

Ownership and use of insecticide-treated nets in Myanmar: insights from a nationally representative demographic and health survey.

Background: Malaria poses a substantial public health threat in Myanmar, indicating the need for rigorous efforts to achieve elimination of the disease nationwide by 2030. The use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) forms part of a pivotal strategy for preventing transmission. This study explored the ownership and use of ITNs in Myanmar and identified factors associated with non-use of ITNs.

Interventions for promoting patients' adherence to 14-day primaquine treatment in a highly malaria-endemic township in Myanmar: a qualitative study among key stakeholders.

Background: Plasmodium vivax malaria is considered a major threat to malaria eradication. The radical cure for P. vivax malaria normally requires a 14-day administration of primaquine (PQ) to clear hypnozoites.

Interventions for promoting patients' adherence to 14-day primaquine treatment in a highly malaria-endemic township in Myanmar: A qualitative study among key stakeholders.

Background: malaria is considered a major threat to malaria eradication. The radical cure for malaria normally requires a 14-day administration of primaquine (PQ) to clear hypnozoites. However, maintaining adherence to PQ treatment is a significant challenge, particularly in malaria-endemic rural areas.

Determinants of correct knowledge on tuberculosis transmission and self-reported tuberculosis prevalence among general population aged 15-49 years in Myanmar.

Introduction: Myanmar has been identified as one of the tuberculosis (TB) high-burden countries and having an understanding of TB transmission is vital for personal infection prevention as well as preventing transmission to others. This study aimed to identify the determinants of correct knowledge on TB transmission and self-reported TB prevalence among general population in Myanmar.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using secondary data from Myanmar demographic and health survey 2015-16.

Reactive surveillance and response strategies for malaria elimination in Myanmar: a literature review.

Myanmar, a country in Greater Mekong Sub-region, aims to eliminate malaria by 2030. To achieve malaria elimination, Myanmar adopted a reactive surveillance and response strategy of malaria case notification within 1 day and case investigation, foci investigation and response activities within 7 days. A literature review was conducted to gain a better understanding of how the reactive surveillance and response strategies are being implemented in Myanmar including enablers and barriers to their implementation.

Factors hindering coverage of targeted mass treatment with primaquine in a malarious township of northern Myanmar in 2019-2020.

Targeted mass primaquine treatment (TPT) might be an effective intervention to facilitate elimination of vivax malaria in Myanmar by 2030. In this study, we explored the factors hindering coverage of a TPT campaign conducted in a malarious township of northern Myanmar. From August 2019 to July 2020, a cross-sectional exploratory design including quantitative and qualitative data was conducted in five villages with high P.

Spatio-temporal trends of malaria incidence from 2011 to 2017 and environmental predictors of malaria transmission in Myanmar.

Background: Myanmar bears the heaviest malaria burden in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). This study assessed the spatio-temporal dynamics and environmental predictors of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria in Myanmar.

Methods: Monthly reports of malaria cases at primary health centers during 2011-2017 were analyzed to describe malaria distribution across Myanmar at the township and state/region levels by spatial autocorrelation (Moran index) and spatio-temporal clustering.

Malaria Preventive Practices among People Residing in Different Malaria-Endemic Settings in a Township of Myanmar: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Different villages in a township or an area exhibit different malaria endemicities. This study aimed to investigate malaria preventive practices among people residing in different villages with stratified malaria endemicity in a township in Myanmar. Quantitative data were collected using standardized questionnaires by conducting face-to-face interviews, and qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews using a guideline.

Utilization of insecticide-treated bed nets among pregnant women in Myanmar-analysis of the 2015-2016 Demographic and Health Survey.

Background: Due to the effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), most malaria-endemic countries resort to free distributions in the population with particular attention to pregnant women, a more vulnerable group. However, the mere issuance of ITNs does not usually translate to proper utilization. This study aimed to examine the utilization of ITNs and its associated factors among pregnant women in Myanmar.

Sustainability of a mobile phone application-based data reporting system in Myanmar's malaria elimination program: a qualitative study.

Background: Strengthening surveillance systems to collect near-real-time case-based data plays a fundamental role in achieving malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). With the advanced and widespread use of digital technology, mHealth is increasingly taking a prominent role in malaria surveillance systems in GMS countries, including Myanmar. In Myanmar's malaria elimination program, an mHealth system called Malaria Case-based Reporting (MCBR) has been applied for case-based reporting of malaria data by integrated community malaria volunteers (ICMVs).

Evaluation of the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a Community-delivered Integrated Malaria Elimination (CIME) model in Myanmar: protocol for an open stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: In the Greater Mekong Subregion, community health workers, known as malaria volunteers, have played a key role in reducing malaria in the control phase, providing essential malaria services in areas with limited formal healthcare. However, the motivation and social role of malaria volunteers, and testing rates, have declined with decreasing malaria burden and reorientation of malaria programmes from control to elimination. Provision of additional interventions for common health concerns could help sustain the effectiveness of volunteers and maintain malaria testing rates required for malaria elimination accreditation by the WHO.

A mobile phone application for malaria case-based reporting to advance malaria surveillance in Myanmar: a mixed methods evaluation.

Background: To achieve malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion, including Myanmar, it is necessary to ensure all malaria cases are detected, treated, and reported in a timely manner. Mobile phone-based applications for malaria reporting, case management, and surveillance implemented at a community-level may overcome reporting limitations associated with current paper-based reporting (PBR), but their effectiveness in this context is unknown.

Methods: A mixed methods evaluation study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of a national Malaria Case-Based Reporting (MCBR) mobile phone application in improving malaria case reporting compared to the existing PBR reporting system in Myanmar.

Performance of Malaria Volunteers regarding Malaria Control Activities in Southeastern Myanmar: A Study in the Areas under Coverage of an Ethnic Health Organization.

Malaria volunteers (MVs) play an essential role in resolving malaria problems by delivering greater access to diagnosis and treatment services, mainly for the underserved community residing in hard-to-reach rural areas. The Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW) has implemented community-based malaria control activities among the ethnic minorities in southeastern Myanmar by promoting the roles of MVs. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing the performance of MVs regarding malaria control activities in the area.

Rapid progress towards elimination of lymphatic filariasis in endemic regions of Myanmar as a result of 16 years of anti-filarial activities (2001-2016).

Background: As Myanmar progresses towards lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination, it is important to know how well the anti-filarial activities have performed. The present study was conducted to study the implementation of the key anti-filarial activities and their impact on key indicators of LF transmission.

Methods: A secondary analysis of aggregate program data on the anti-filarial activities was conducted in four endemic state/regions of Myanmar receiving at least six mass drug administration (MDA) rounds during 2001-2016.