Mapping routine malaria incidence at village level for targeted control in Papua New Guinea

Malaria surveillance and response-systems are essential for identifying the areas most affected by malaria and for targeting resources. This study aimed to assess whether the visualization of routinely collected health facility data linked to village of residence provides evidence for targeting control interventions in four sentinel health facilities (SHF) in Papua New Guinea. During the surveillance period a total of 8,173 fever cases from the SHFs catchment areas tested positive for malaria and were mapped by village of residence. Despite limitations, this approach appeared useful in sites with very few remaining cases or with increasingly marked heterogeneity. Villages that could benefit from targeted interventions or investigations were identified.