Exploring public opinion and prospective receptiveness to emerging health technologies in Uganda: a case of gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control in Pallisa District

Abstract

Despite the existence of various malaria control interventions like Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), use of drones, larvae-cides, malaria remains a significant public health problem in the country. To complement these efforts, Uganda is conducting Gene Drive Mosquitoes (GDM) for malaria control trials. However, the receptiveness of GDM as an emerging health technology by the lay public is not well documented. Therefore, this study explored public receptiveness to Emerging Health Technologies in Uganda using the case of GDM for malaria control in Pallisa, Eastern Uganda. The overall study objective was to explore public receptiveness to GDM for malaria control. The study adopted an exploratory research design utilizing a mixed-methods approach. The methods of data collection were document review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and survey. The findings indicated that the concept of GDM for malaria control is still new to the public. Even among the 12% of the respondents that expressed awareness of GDM reported that they had heard that GDM is a prospective new malaria control approach yet to be adopted. This suggested an express opportunity to sensitize the public more about GDM. The study established that the public has positive perceptions about GDM adoption as a complementary malaria control method. The understanding that GDM by design promises zero elimination of malaria influenced the positive perception since it targets to eliminate the anopheles mosquito, a known malaria parasite carrier. On the other hand, the respondents held some negative perceptions about GDM adoption as a complementary malaria control method. Fear of the unknown governance, social-economic, health, and environmental risks associated with adoption of GDM as a malaria control method majorly influenced the negative public perceptions. Such perceptions were attributed to limited public knowledge about GDM. The study established that indeed, the development and subsequent application of GDM as a complementary malaria control method is likely to meet a number of unanswered questions on its likely governance, social-economic, health, and environmental short- and long-term risks and impacts. The study suggests Uganda Virus Research Institute should adapt Uganda's policy, legal, and institutional framework, particularly the Biosafety and Biotechnology Bill 2012 also known as Genetic Engineering Regulatory Bill 2018. This framework should define the governance, social-economic, health, and environmental risks and impacts of GDM, along with appropriate governance and risk mitigation plans.