Prevalence of Malaria Among Patients Attending Assosa General Hospital, Western Ethiopia
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Date
2017-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium parasite and is transmitted by females Anopheles mosquitoes. It is one of the leading causes of illness and death in the world. It is a leading public health problem in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of malaria among patients who attended in Assosa General Hospital for the last five years, Western Ethiopia. A retrospective study was conducted to assess the prevalence of malaria infection from records of peripheral blood smear positive patients in Assosa General Hospital. All malaria cases reported between 2012 and 2016 were reviewed and analyzed. During the study period of five years a total of 13697 thick and thin with Giemsa stained blood films were examined for malaria diagnosis in Assosa General Hospital and 7353 (53.68%) microscopically confirmed malaria cases were reported with a fluctuating trend. Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum accounted for 55.02 and 44.98% of the cases respectively. All cases were monoinfections. Malaria was reported in all age groups and both sexes. But the ≥15 year age group and males were more affected. The prevalence of malaria infection between males and females was not statistically significant (P>0.05) and also the prevalence of malaria among age groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Despite the apparent fluctuation of malaria trends in the area, the highest peak of malaria cases was reported during September to November within the last five years. Control interventions must be maintained and scaled-up to sustainably control the prevalence of malaria infection and eventually eliminate it in the study area, considering both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum.
Keywords/Phrases: Malaria, Plasmodium, Assosa General Hospital, Prevalence, Retrospective study
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Keywords
Malaria, Plasmodium, Assosa General Hospital, Prevalence, Retrospective