Prevalence of Malaria in the Highland Fringes of Butajira Area, Southern Ethiopia: a Retrospective and Cross- Sectional Study.
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Date
2008-07-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
To determine the magnitude of malaria transmission in the highland fringes of Butajira area during the year 2006/07, a cross-sectional data on malaria prevalence was collected using standard parasitological, entomological and KAP study techniques. Retrospective data for the period between 2000/01 and 2005/06 was obtained by reviewing clinical records at Butajira Health Center. The retrospective clinical data showed malaria to be one of the major causes of outpatient consultations in the study area. The domiciles of the patients who received treatment for malaria at the District Health Center were Butajira town and the adjacent highland fringe rural localities. This indicated the transmission of malaria to be both in Butajira town and the adjacent highland fringe rural localities, all of which are higher than 2050m above sea level. In the parasitological survey conducted in October through December 2006, a 4.4% malaria positivity rate was detected. The majority (66.7%) of the infections were due to P. vivax and the rest were due to P. falciparum.The infections were observed in all age groups, with a relatively higher prevalence (3.6%) in adults. Difference in malaria prevalence was observed in the two localities of the study area with Misrak-Meskan, the lower highland fringe area, having a relatively higher peak season prevalence (5.3%) compared to that in Mirab-Meskan (2.7%). However, monthly incidence of malaria for October- November was not significantly different between the higher highland fringe areas (Mirab-Meskan) and the lower (Mirab-Meskan). Larval mosquito collections showed An. christyi was the dominant species during the major peak season (Oct-Dec) and during the small rainy season (Apr-May).However, An. gambiae s.l. was the dominant species in adult collections in both seasons suggesting that the adult mosquito sampling techniques used may have been more suited to its collection. More adult mosquitoes were collected outdoors than indoors in both localities, suggesting the likelihood of outdoor malaria transmission. The KAP survey showed that low proportion of household heads from Mirab-Meskan identified the role of mosquitoes in transmitting malaria as compared to those from Misrak-Meskan. This may be an indication that malaria transmission in Mirab-Meskan is a relatively new introduction, as a result of which the population has poor awareness about the disease. Therefore, health education about the risk of malaria in the upper highland fringes of Buitajira area must be given adequate attention to minimize potential epidemics. Furthermore, in light of its abundance, which coincided with the transmission seasons, the possible role of An. christyi as a secondary vector in the highlands must be investigated.
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Highland Malaria, Butajira, An. Gambiae S.L, An. Christyi, KAP