Models for Studying Vulnerability, Research Paper Example

A model discussed in this chapter that is applicable to my practice in maternity is the model of Malaria in Pregnancy Treatment Model. Malaria in Pregnancy Treatment Model involves a conglomerate that entails divergent psychosocial as well as socio-behavioural models. The model has the potentials needed for a comprehensive as well as holistic extraction of the relevant and crucial factors that determine malaria infection during pregnancy. Amendments can be made to the Malaria in Pregnancy Treatment Model to cater for supplementary ‘single-level modes of intervention in which case there are relations among diverse factors such as drug interventions, chemoprophylaxis or the use of IPT by means of community-based channels (World Health Organization, 2004). The community knowledge concerning the link between mosquitoes and malaria infection is fundamental but also requires prompt as well as effective medication to achieve the recognition of the illness. However, malaria symptoms are quite often confused with the usual pregnancy symptoms.

Malaria infection during is a common occurrence among majority of people and its susceptibility is attributed to two factors. The first factor involves the apparent predilection for development of clinical malaria as a result of distinctive personal characteristics such as a women being pregnant, weakness of an individual or childhood (Williams & Jones, 2004) The second factor involves the apparent exposure level. In a situation that malaria infection is associated with rainfall that brings about mosquitoes; apparent predilection for development of malaria is influenced by high mosquito density coupled with a rainy season. The apparent predilection for malaria susceptibility in pregnant women will thence be based on the high susceptibility due to pregnancy in relation to the risk activity of seasonality.

References

Williams, H. A. & Jones, C. (2004) A critical review of behavioural issues related to malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa: what contributions have social scientists made? Social Science and Medicine 59: 501-523.

World Health Organization, (2004). A strategic framework for malaria prevention and control during pregnancy in the African region. Brazzaville: WHO Regional Office for Africa AFR/MAL/04/01.