Effectiveness of community participation in vector-borne disease control

Vector-borne diseases continue to represent a major public health threat in Latin America. Although vertical programmes that relied on large teams of workers were successful in stopping or significantly reducing transmission of malaria, yellow fever and Chagas' disease in many countries earlier in this century, they have recently been less effective due to a variety of reasons, including the high cost of labour and insecticides. Although participatory approaches to the control of disease vectors appear to have many advantages, they have been difficult to implement due to a number of historical, social and cultural factors which are present in Latin America. Taking Aedes aegypti control programmes as an example, it is shown that for community participation to work, there must be willingness to define the form participation will take in consultation with the community, and commitment on the part of local governments to addressing local concerns, such as difficulties in obtaining good quality drinking water.