Obstacles to malaria elimination in Guapi-Cauca, Colombia

Abstract

Objetive To explain the obstacles for malaria elimination in Guapi (Cauca, Colombia), considering the community perception. Method A qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research was carried out in Guapi, from October to November 2016, through the content analysis of eight female volun­teer’s focus groups. Inductive and interpretive analyses were also performed. Results Based on the volunteers’ responses, three categories were built, from which five subcategories related to obstacles (issue) for malaria elimination emerged; these included municipality social determinants such as environmental, cultural and health care barriers. All of them require of comprehensive interventions by different state agencies and inclusion of the specific characteristics of the local community. Conclusion We found that lack of planning and municipal poor infrastructure limits the elimination of malaria and other communicable diseases alike. Economic activities such as mining, self-medication practices, community poor adherence to prevention measures, lack of professional and microscopists hiring and the difficulties for accessing to health services are the main obstacles for malaria elimination in this municipality of the Colombian Pacific Coast.