Palawan has the highest malaria endemicity in the Philippines, and malaria remains a major health burden in
the region. In 1999, 344 microscopists were trained in Palawan. This allowed for early diagnosis and prompt
treatment throughout the island. To take a significant step toward the elimination of malaria on the island,
microscopists implemented community awareness-raising activities aimed at preventing transmission of
malaria. The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of these activities on the selfimplemented
preventive measures against malaria by the ex-patients of the microscopists. Structured interviews
were carried out from January to February in 2012, in 20 remote malaria-endemic villages throughout Palawan.
In total, 141 ex-patients who had previously been diagnosed malaria-positive by the microscopists, volunteered
to participate in the present study. Structural equation modeling was conducted to determine factors associated
with self-implemented preventive measures against malaria, which included: (1) place of residence; (2) sociodemographic
characteristics; (3) knowledge on malaria; (4) participation in community awareness-raising activities
for malaria prevention; and (5) satisfaction with microscopists. Structural equation modeling identified
six significant factors independently associated with self-implemented preventive measures against malaria;
ethnicity, knowledge on malaria transmission, knowledge on vector species, knowledge on vector's most active
time, participation in awareness-raising activities for malaria prevention by microscopists, and satisfaction
with microscopists. Tagalog ethnicity (the predominant ethnic group) was positively related to better selfimplemented
preventive measures. In conclusion, aside from providing early diagnosis and treatment, microscopists
played a significant role in self-implemented preventive measures against malaria. The strengthening of
awareness-raising activities by microscopists was suggested to be an effective strategy for reducing malaria reinfection
in Palawan. These activities should be strengthened to improve preventive measures implemented
by ex-patients traveling to mountain areas and to enhance the knowledge on malaria transmission particularly
among indigenous residents.