Key Findings from the 2009 Liberia Malaria Indicator Survey

Te 2009 Liberia Malaria Indicator Survey (LMIS)assessed malaria knowledge, prevention, and treat-ment practices and malaria and anemia prevalence.Over 4,000 households were interviewed, and about4,000 children were tested or both anemia and ma-laria.

Children and pregnant women are the most vulner-able to malaria. Only about one-quarter o childrenand one-third o pregnant women slept under anIN the night beore the survey.

Almost one-third o children under age ve testedpositive or malaria according to blood smears. Ma-laria is most common in older children.

Monrovia

15%

North

Western

28%North Central

42%

South

Central

24%

South

Eastern A

27% South

Eastern B

35%

Prevalence of Malariain Children by Region

(testing by microscopy)

Use of ITNs

2629

33

Childrenunder 5

All women15-49

Pregnantwomen 15-49

Percent of children and women who slept 

under an ITN the night before the sur vey 

Over three-quarters (78%) of householdnets were obtained for free.

Monrovia

34%

 

North

Western

63%North Central

57%

South

Central

32%

South

Eastern A

61% South

Eastern B

66%

Ownership of ITNs by Region

Percent of households

with at least one ITN 

Malaria prevalenceis highest in NorthCentral and South

Eastern B regions. Itis least common in

Monrovia.

Overall, 47% o Liberian households

own at least oneinsecticide-treated

net (IN). INownership is lowest

in Monrovia andSouth Central

region.

Malaria Prevalence in Children

815

24 23

34

Age in months

Percent of children age 6-59 months testing positive for malaria by microscopy 

6-8 9-11 12-17 18-23 24-35 36-47 48-59

40 41

 Total6-59

32

Anemia Prevalence in Children

4742 43 41

35

Age in months

Percent of children 6-59 months with moderate or severe anemia

6-8 9-11 12-17 18-23 24-35 36-47 48-59

28 25

 Total6-59

34

Anemia is a common symptom o malaria inection.More than 60% o children under age 5 have somedegree o anemia, while 34% have moderate or se- vere anemia (shown above). Anemia is most com-mon in younger children.

Over 90% of women know that malariacan be avoided and among them, 76% know

that using mosquito nets can prevent malaria.

Monrovia

20%

 

North

Western

32%North Central

29%

South

Central

17%

South

Eastern A

35% South

Eastern B

36%

Children’s Use of ITNs by RegionPercent of children under age five who slept 

under an ITN the night before the survey 

Less than 1 in vechildren under

age 5 in Monroviaand South Centralregion slept underan IN the nightbeore the survey.

 

2009 Liberia

Malaria Indicator

Survey (LMIS)

For more inormation on the results o the 2009Liberia Malaria Indicator Survey, please contact:

Te 2009 Liberia Malaria Indicator Survey (LMIS) wasimplemented by the National Malaria Control Programo the Ministry o Health and Social Welare (MOHSW).Te Liberia Institute o Statistics and Geo-InormationServices (LISGIS) assisted in the design o the survey,as well as the training and monitoring o data collec-tion sta. Te Laboratory at the China-Liberia MalariaCenter implemented the microscopic reading o malariaslides. echnical assistance was provided by ICF Macro,an ICF International company, through the worldwideMEASURE DHS program. Funding was provided by the United States Agency or International Development(USAID) through the MEASURE DHS program, and thePresident’s Malaria Initiative.

In USA:

MEASURE DHSICF Macro11785 Beltsville DriveCalverton, MD 20705 USAelephone: 301-572-0200Fax: 301-572-0999www.measuredhs.com

In Liberia:

National Malaria Control ProgramMinistry o Health and Social WelareCapiol By-Pass, P.O. Box 10-90091000 Monrovia 10, Liberiaelephone: 231-651-6577Email: jjonesdr@yahoo.com

Key Findings

Response rates and methodology:  Malaria and anemia testing were carried out on all children age 6-59months living in selected households. Malaria testing was done throughboth Paracheck rapid diagnostic blood testing, as well as blood smear microscopy. Anemia testing was carried out on a blood drop using theHemoCue system. Of the 4,110 eligible children, 98% provided blood spots

 for anemia and malaria testing.

Pregnant women should receive at least two doses o the antimalarial SP/Fansidar during an antenatal visitto prevent malaria. Almost hal (45%) o pregnantwomen received this recommended treatment.

Intermittent Preventive Treatmentof Pregnant Women

6558

47

 Took anyantimalarial

 Took anySP/Fansidar

 Took 2+doses

SP/Fansidar

Percent of women pregnant in the two years before

the survey, based on their last birth

5545

ReceivedSP/Fansidarduring ANC

visit

Received 2+doses of 

SP/Fansidarduring ANC visit

Treatment of Fever in Children

Percent among children under 5 with fever in the 2 weeks before the survey 

33%no antimalarial

received

38%received

antimalarial thesame or next day

29%received

antimalarial,2+ days

after fever

More than one-third o childrenwith ever receivedan antimalarial theday o or day aferthe ever. AC andChloroquine werethe most commonly used antimalarials.