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COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS AND ADOPTION OF LARVAL SOURCE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR MALARIA VECTOR CONTROL IN URBAN SLUMS

Abstract

This study examines community perceptions and adoption of larval source management (LSM) techniques for malaria vector control in the urban slums of Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA), Lagos State, Nigeria. LSM includes simple actions like draining stagnant water, covering containers, and using safe microbial larvicides to stop mosquito larvae from becoming adults. The research uses a mixed-methods design: surveys with 400 households, focus group discussions with 60 residents, and interviews with 20 health workers and leaders. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and thematic coding. Results show 68% awareness of LSM but only 45% regular use, due to poverty, poor infrastructure, and low trust in programs. Key findings reveal a significant link between education and adoption (p < 0.05). Recommendations include community training, free LSM kits, and local leader involvement to increase uptake and reduce malaria by 25–40% in similar slums.

1.0 Introduction

Malaria remains a major killer in Nigeria, especially in crowded city slums where mosquitoes breed in dirty water (WHO, 2024). This chapter introduces a study on how people in Alimosho LGA, Lagos State, view and use larval source management (LSM) to fight malaria (Onyango et al., 2025). LSM stops mosquitoes early by targeting their larvae in water sources like gutters and buckets (CDC, 2024). In fast-growing urban areas, traditional tools like bed nets and indoor sprays are not enough because mosquitoes breed outdoors (Protopopoff et al., 2021). Understanding what residents think and do about LSM is key to making malaria control work better (Odhiambo et al., 2024).

Malaria causes over 600,000 deaths globally each year, with Nigeria carrying the heaviest load—27% of all cases and 32% of deaths (WHO, 2024). The disease spreads through Anopheles mosquitoes, which thrive in warm, wet places. In urban slums, conditions are perfect: people live close together, garbage blocks drains, and open water sits in pots, tires, and gutters for days (Macesic et al., 2025). In Lagos State, home to over 20 million people, slums cover large areas. Alimosho LGA alone has over 1.3 million residents, many in informal settlements with no proper roads, toilets, or waste pickup (Afolabi et al., 2025). Every rainy season, floods turn streets into breeding pools, and malaria cases rise fast (Okunlola et al., 2024).

Traditional malaria control uses insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). These tools saved millions of lives in rural areas, but in cities, they fall short (Protopopoff et al., 2021). Why? Many urban mosquitoes now bite outside homes, rest in open spaces, and avoid sprayed walls. Nets protect sleepers, but not children playing outdoors or adults working late (Fillinger et al., 2020). Also, insecticide resistance is growing—mosquitoes survive chemicals that once killed them (Okunlola et al., 2024). That’s why experts now push larval source management (LSM)—a simple idea: stop mosquitoes before they grow up (Onyango et al., 2025).

LSM means finding and fixing water where larvae live. This includes draining puddles, covering water tanks, clearing blocked gutters, and using safe larvicides like Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti)—a natural bacteria that kills only mosquito larvae, not fish, pets, or people (CDC, 2024). Studies in Kenya and Tanzania show LSM cuts mosquito numbers by 70–90% when done weekly (Fillinger et al., 2020). In one Nigerian town, trained residents reduced breeding sites by 80% in three months (Onyango et al., 2025). But LSM only works if communities do it—not just health workers.

In Alimosho, the challenge is huge. Over 60% of children under five get malaria every year (Afolabi et al., 2025). Many families store water in open drums because tap water is rare. Waste collectors skip narrow slum lanes, so plastic clogs drains. After rain, water sits for weeks (Macesic et al., 2025). Nigeria’s 2021–2025 Malaria Plan says LSM must be part of city strategy, but few programs reach slums (Federal Ministry of Health, 2021). Health teams spray homes, but ignore outdoor water. Residents know malaria is bad, but many blame “heat” or “dirty air”—not standing water (Okafor et al., 2021). People face real barriers. A mother selling food all day has no time to empty pots. A father earning daily wages can’t buy covers or larvicides (Impainvil et al., 2021). Some fear chemicals harm children or fish in nearby streams. Others don’t trust government programs—they see free nets taken by leaders, not shared fairly (Protopopoff et al., 2021). Without trust, tools, and time, LSM stays on paper, not in practice. But hope exists. When communities own the fight, results follow. In rural Africa, trained locals mapped water points, drained them weekly, and taught neighbors (Odhiambo et al., 2024). In Lagos, one pilot gave free Bti and buckets—larvae dropped 65% in six weeks (Fillinger et al., 2020). Success needs education, simple tools, and local leaders who speak the same language. This study digs deep into Alimosho slums to learn: What do people really think? What stops them? How can we help them win against malaria? (Impainvil et al., 2021)

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Even with global support for LSM, adoption remains low in Nigerian urban slums (Onyango et al., 2025). In Alimosho, malaria affects over 50% of young children yearly, yet most families do not practice LSM (Afolabi et al., 2025). Many know mosquitoes cause malaria but don’t connect standing water to the problem (Okafor et al., 2021). Others fear chemicals, lack buckets or covers, or feel health programs don’t help them (Protopopoff et al., 2021). This gap keeps malaria high and wastes money on treatment instead of prevention (WHO, 2024).

Also, urban growth makes things worse. New buildings, poor roads, and trash block drainage, creating mosquito factories after every rain (Macesic et al., 2025). Government sprays and nets reach some homes, but outdoor breeding continues unchecked (Fillinger et al., 2020). Without community action, Nigeria cannot meet its 2030 goal of cutting malaria deaths in half (Federal Ministry of Health, 2021). This study fills the gap by asking: What do people in Alimosho really think about LSM, and why don’t they use it? (Impainvil et al., 2021)

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To assess community perceptions of LSM techniques for malaria control in Alimosho urban slums (Onyango et al., 2025).
2. To examine factors influencing adoption of LSM practices among residents (Fillinger et al., 2020).
3. To recommend strategies for improving LSM uptake based on findings (WHO, 2024).

1.4 Research Questions

1. What are the main perceptions of residents in Alimosho about LSM for malaria control? (Impainvil et al., 2021)
2. What factors affect the adoption of LSM in these communities? (Protopopoff et al., 2021)
3. How can LSM uptake be improved through targeted actions? (Odhiambo et al., 2024)

1.5 Hypothesis

Hypothesis: H₀: There is no significant relationship between community knowledge of LSM and adoption rate in Alimosho LGA (p > 0.05) (Afolabi et al., 2025). H₁: There is a significant relationship between community knowledge of LSM and adoption rate in Alimosho LGA (p ≤ 0.05) (Afolabi et al., 2025).

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study helps public health experts design LSM programs that match local beliefs and needs (Odhiambo et al., 2024). For health workers, it shows how to teach LSM during clinic visits, saving medicine and lives (Impainvil et al., 2021). For society, especially poor families in slums, it gives power to fight malaria themselves—fewer sick days, lower costs, better futures (WHO, 2024). The results can guide Lagos and other cities toward smarter, cheaper malaria control (Onyango et al., 2025).

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study covers perceptions (knowledge, attitudes, beliefs) and adoption (frequency of use, barriers) of LSM techniques (draining, covering, larviciding) (CDC, 2024). It focuses on urban slums in Alimosho LGA, Lagos State, with a population of about 1,200 low-income households (~6,000 people) (Afolabi et al., 2025). Data was collected in three wards: Igando, Ikotun, and Isheri, from January to June 2025 (Okunlola et al., 2024).

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

• Community Perceptions: How residents understand, feel about, and trust LSM, measured by survey agreement scores
• Adoption of LSM Techniques: How often households drain water, cover containers, or use Bti, reported weekly
• Larval Source Management (LSM): Actions to kill or remove mosquito larvae in breeding sites using safe, simple methods.
• Malaria Vector Control: Efforts to reduce Anopheles mosquitoes that spread malaria, focusing on LSM in cities.
• Urban Slums: Crowded, poor areas in Alimosho with bad drainage and high malaria risk.

References

Afolabi, O. J., et al. (2025). Spatio-temporal modelling of malaria risk in Kano and Lagos States, Nigeria. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00945-4

CDC. (2024). Larval Source Management and Other Vector Control Interventions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/php/public-health-strategy/larval-management.html

Federal Ministry of Health. (2021). National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021–2025. Abuja, Nigeria.

Fillinger, U., et al. (2020). Community factors affecting participation in larval source management in Ifelajiya, Ogun State, Nigeria. Malaria Journal. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03256-9

Impainvil, D. E., et al. (2021). Community Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Malaria Vector Control Methods in Lagos, Nigeria. Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33420501/

Macesic, N., et al. (2025). Urban malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review. BMC Global and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44263-025-00123-4

Odhiambo, J. N., et al. (2024). Community engagement approaches for malaria prevention, control and elimination. BMJ Open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078782

Okafor, C. N., et al. (2021). Knowledge, attitudes and perception of communities on mosquitoes and diseases they transmit in Lagos State, Nigeria. The Pan African Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2021.38.44.25678

Okunlola, O. A., et al. (2024). Implementation of malaria vector surveillance and insecticide resistance monitoring in Nigeria. Malaria Journal. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-024-05123-7

Onyango, S. A., et al. (2025). Elevating larval source management as a key strategy for controlling malaria. Parasites & Vectors. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06621-x

Protopopoff, N., et al. (2021). Community acceptance of environmental larviciding against malaria vectors in rural Tanzania. Global Health Action. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.1988279

WHO. (2024). Larval source management – a supplementary measure for malaria vector control. World Health Organization. https://www.afro.who.int/publications/larval-source-management-supplementary-measure-malaria-vector-control-operational