Children as Health Change Agents in the Fight Against Malaria : A case study in Babati town, Tanzania

The aim of this study is to examine schoolchildren’s knowledge about malaria in Babati, Tanzania. It will also examine the impact of the disease on children’s education and if schoolchildren in Babati have the possibility to act as health change agents and be a part of combating the high malaria prevalence. The thesis is based on a qualitative method with secondary information retrieved from scientific articles and previous studies. It is also based on empirical data collected during a field study in Babati, Tanzania in 2012. Both structured and semi structured interviews were made with schoolchildren, teachers and health care personnel. The studies showed that malaria affects children’s education primarily through absence, but can also cause cognitive impairment as well as neurological damage. The interviews revealed the students to have varying knowledge about the disease and it also revealed that children only have the ability to act as health change agents if teachers with help of the government, the hospital or an NGO are willing to cooperate and provide the students with information.