An assessment of Lot Quality Assurance Sampling to evaluate malaria

Background Large investments and increased global prioritization of malaria prevention and treatment have resulted in greater emphasis on pro-gramme monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in many countries. Many countries currently use large multistage cluster sample sur-veys to monitor malaria outcome indicators on a regional and national level. However, these surveys often mask local-level vari-ability important to programme management. Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) has played a valuable role for local-level programme M&E. If incorporated into these larger sur-veys, it would provide a comprehensive M&E plan at little, if any, extra cost. Methods The Mozambique Ministry of Health conducted a Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) in June and July 2007. We applied LQAS classifica-tion rules to the 345 sampled enumeration areas to demonstrate identifying high- and low-performing areas with respect to tw