# Center for the Study of Complex Malaria in India

> **NIH NIH U19** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $8

## Abstract

STUDY TYPE 2: SUMMARY
The goal of this project is to conduct mixed methods, social network-based, socio-behavioral studies to
determine what types of malaria-preventive interventions reduce malaria through good coverage and use, and
to identify demand and/or supply side barriers to malaria control measures in the northeastern state of
Meghalaya, India. In this area the malaria situation is dynamic. Cases steadily increased from 2012-2015, but
since then there has been a downward trend, and 2017 had the fewest cases ever reported. This steep decline
has been attributed to the distribution of long-lasting insecticide impregnated bednets (LLINs) in 2016 and
partial adoption of indoor residual spraying (IRS) with DDT. Nevertheless, residual cases remain endemic,
and to design an appropriate elimination strategy, we must try to understand the reasons for these cases. Data
from the Meghalaya Department of Health Malaria Division and from the Center for the Study of Complex
Malaria in India (CSCMi) ongoing epidemiology studies suggest that community resistance to IRS, misuse of
LLINs, unprotected outdoor activity, and hidden reservoirs of asymptomatic, submicroscopic, and hypnozoite
infections all contribute to the endemic persistence of malaria. At Barato PHC (primary health center) and
Nonglang PHC in Meghalaya, 10 villages in each site will be subjects of epidemiological studies funded
through the parent CSCMi 2.0 grant. In Aim 1 we plan to examine how malaria-preventive measures are
adopted in practice, using ethnographic methods of non-participant observations; in Aim 2 we will explore the
cultural and social barriers preventive measures may face, using qualitative interviews and focus group
discussions (FGDs); and in Aim 3 we will assess which community members are most likely to influence
villagers to accept or reject such measures, using social network analysis surveys. When these Aims have
been concluded, their findings will be summarized and integrated with those of other CSCMi studies
(epidemiology, vector) underway at the Barato and Nonglang PHCs into a malaria situation analysis for the
villages involved. This will yield a better understanding of the focal malaria epidemiology, as well as barriers
and opportunities to current interventions used (e.g., LLINs, IRS), and possibilities for additional interventions
(e.g., treatment of household members of malaria cases). It will also enable us to provide recommendations to
the state malaria control program for additional measures that are likely to foster or improve the effectiveness
of IRS and LLINs, with the long-term objective of complete elimination of malaria in Meghalaya.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10117156
- **Project number:** 5U19AI089676-12
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JANE M CARLTON
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $8
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2010-07-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10117156

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10117156, Center for the Study of Complex Malaria in India (5U19AI089676-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10117156. Licensed CC0.

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