Co-Designing a Citizen Science Program for Malaria Control in Rwanda

Domina Asingizwe, Marilyn Milumbu Murindahabi, Constantianus J.M. Koenraadt, P. Marijn Poortvliet, Arnold J.H. van Vliet, Chantal M. Ingabire, Emmanuel Hakizimana, Leon Mutesa, Willem Takken and Cees Leeuwis
Additional contact information
Domina Asingizwe: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali 3286, Rwanda
Marilyn Milumbu Murindahabi: College of Sciences and Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali 3900, Rwanda
Constantianus J.M. Koenraadt: Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
P. Marijn Poortvliet: Strategic Communication group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 EW Wageningen, The Netherlands
Arnold J.H. van Vliet: Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
Chantal M. Ingabire: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali 3286, Rwanda
Emmanuel Hakizimana: Malaria and other Parasitic Diseases Division, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali 7162, Rwanda
Leon Mutesa: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali 3286, Rwanda
Willem Takken: Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
Cees Leeuwis: Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 EW Wageningen, the Netherlands

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: Good health and human wellbeing is one of the sustainable development goals. To achieve this goal, many efforts are required to control infectious diseases including malaria which remains a major public health concern in Rwanda. Surveillance of mosquitoes is critical to control the disease, but surveillance rarely includes the participation of citizens. A citizen science approach (CSA) has been applied for mosquito surveillance in developed countries, but it is unknown whether it is feasible in rural African contexts. In this paper, the technical and social components of such a program are described. Participatory design workshops were conducted in Ruhuha, Rwanda. Community members can decide on the technical tools for collecting and reporting mosquito species, mosquito nuisance, and confirmed malaria cases. Community members set up a social structure to gather observations by nominating representatives to collect the reports and send them to the researchers. These results demonstrate that co-designing a citizen science program (CSP) with citizens allows for decision on what to use in reporting observations. The decisions that the citizens took demonstrated that they have context-specific knowledge and skills, and showed that implementing a CSP in a rural area is feasible.

Keywords: malaria; participatory design; co-creation; citizen science; surveillance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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