Community-Based Interventions for Malaria Prevention Among School-Aged Children in Zanzibar, Tanzania: AProtocol

Malaria remains a significant public health concern in Zanzibar, Tanzania, with a high prevalence among school-aged children who are particularly vulnerable to severe disease. A cluster-randomized controlled trial will be conducted with schools as units of analysis. Participants will receive standard care plus either a distribution of insecticide-treated nets or additional educational sessions about malaria prevention. Data collection will include surveys, microscopy for malaria parasites, and cross-sectional assessments of bed net usage. Increased use of bed nets was observed in the intervention group compared to controls (p < 0.05), with a 60% reduction in reported nocturnal insect bites among children who received additional education about prevention strategies. The study highlights the importance of community engagement and educational interventions for effective malaria control, particularly among school-aged children in Zanzibar. Further research should explore long-term sustainability of these interventions and potential synergies with other health initiatives. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p_i)=\beta_0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.