Irrigation and Socio-Economic Factors Related to Malaria Transmission in Ziway, Eastern Oromia Zone.
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Date
2007-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Ziway is one of the regions in central Ethiopia where unreliable rainfall frequently affects
agricultural production. To deal with this problem the government of Ethiopia has initiated
the introduction of small-scale irrigation schemes. However, without proper planning such
schemes are known to worsen vector-borne disease endemicity. This necessitates health
impact assessment of irrigation systems to prevent water related diseases. The objective of
the study was to assess the effect of small-scale irrigation schemes on malaria transmission
in irrigated areas around Ziway. Blood smear samples were examined at the end of the
main rainy season and the dry season of 2005/2006. The socio-economic condition of the
irrigated and non-irrigated farming communities was assessed by using interviews based on
questionnaires with household heads and agricultural and health workers. Overall irrigated
areas had significantly higher (19.2%) (p<0.05) malaria infection prevalence rate as
compared to the non-irrigated study sites (16%). In irrigated areas all age categories in the
dry season showed higher malaria infection prevalence as compared to the rainy season.
However, the difference was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the age category greater than
15 years old. In irrigated areas, households producing by irrigation had larger farm size and
higher income but with higher malaria infection prevalence, indicating higher risk of
malaria transmission. In non-irrigated areas, households with larger farm size and higher
income were with lower malaria infection prevalence, indicating some protection provided
by the limited anti-malaria measures in the area. Households living in grass top houses
were with higher malaria infection prevalence rate as compared to those living in
corrugated iron sheet roofs. In order to see the association of individual parameters in
malaria infection, analysis was done by using the logit model. Accordingly, farmers with
irrigated farms had higher income and yet did not use malaria protection measures such as
bed nets, drugs, etc. Therefore, control interventions through integrated malaria control
approaches that include education about its importance, source reduction and combined
effort by agricultural and health workers during establishment of small-scale irrigation
schemes are recommended.
Key words: Agriculture, Anopheles pharoensis, Ethiopia, Irrigation, Malaria, Plasmodium
falciparum, P. vivax, Socio-economy, Ziway
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Keywords
Agriculture, Anopheles pharoensis, Ethiopia, Irrigation, Malaria,, Plasmodium, falciparum, P. vivax, Socio-economy, Ziway.