OPT-SMC: Benin project
Benin: A case-control study to assess the effectiveness of SMC in Northern Benin
In Benin, SMC was first implemented in 2019. A case control study is being carried out in the municipalities of Malanville, Karimama, Kandi Gogounou and Ségbana in Alibori district in Northern Benin to assess the effectiveness of SMC. In this region, just under 300,000 children aged between 3 and 59 months were eligible for SMC in 2020. The study took place across the 2020 and 2021 SMC campaigns.
Children aged between 3 months and 59 months who were brought to health centres and were confirmed as having malaria were recruited after informed consent. Controls were children matched to same age of a case with no clinical signs of malaria in the last two weeks living within the neighbourhood of the case. After informed consent, the data collectors administered a structured questionnaire to the caregivers of all children selected. Results are expected in 2022.