ABSTRACT
Community health services are the mechanism through which households and communities increase their knowledge and skills in disease control and plan interventions. A mixed method cross-sectional baseline household survey was carried out in Migori and Kwale counties which constituted the intervention and control study sites respectively. The primary study participants were heads of households while secondary were FGDs and KIIs. Mean annual malaria cases for those above five years for all facilities in Migori County were 154/1000 compared to 113/1000 in Kwale. Mean annual malaria morbidity among children under five in all health facilities in Migori was 132/1000 compared to 32/1000 in Kwale. Net ownership among households in Migori was 65.8% compared to 31.4% Kwale. Pregnant women attending ANC in Migori was 60.0% compared to 92.9% in Kwale. 20% of pregnant women received IPTp3 in Migori was compared to 18.2% in Kwale. Malaria incidence in Migori was 36.73% compared to 63.7% for Kwale. Nets in use the night before survey by pregnant women in Migori was 38.6% compared to Kwale that was 28.5%. Proportion tested for malaria in Migori was 45.3% compared to Kwale that was 40%. 32.9% of household respondents in Migori took ACT within 24 hours after fever started was compared to 8% in Kwale. The study concludes that community health units exist within the two counties and thus provides opportunities to strengthening community health services to achieve access and utilization of malaria control interventions at this level.
Key words: Malaria, Community Health Services, Community Health Volunteers, Households.