Integrated and sustainable community approach to malaria prevention in Gulu District, Northern Uganda

OBJECTIVES: About one-half of the world's population is endangered by malaria, particularly those in underdeveloped countries. Because of poor prevention measures, in 2023, the WHO Africa region accounted for 95% of cases and 96% of deaths. Malaria is a prevalent tropical disease with high morbidity, mortality, and economic and social impact. The WHO recommends integrated vector management for malaria control, which has shown promise in reducing the diseas e burden. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study in Unyama and Koro subcounties in Gulu District. We collected data from eight focus group discussions and 10 in-depth interviews with community members, leaders, and health workers. We analysed data using thematic content analysis and Atlas ti software. RESULTS: The facilitators for community-integrated malaria control were government mosquito net distribution, village health teams, and combined preventive methods. The barriers were inconsistent preventive practices, financial and resource constraints, misuse of mosquito nets, cultural misconceptions, and limited support for volunteers. CONCLUSION: Although integrated malaria-prevention approaches have demonstrated effectiveness, their full implementation in Uganda remains constrained. Persistent socioeconomic barriers undermine both uptake and long-term sustainability at the community level. Addressing these structural and contextual challenges is essential to translate proven interventions into sustained malaria-control gains.