Prevalence of Malaria and its influencing factors in Awassa District, Southern Ethiopia
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Date
2006-06
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Malaria is a leading public health problem in Ethiopia where an estimated 68% of the
population lives in malarious areas. In 2005, malaria has been reported as the first leading
cause of morbidity & mortality accounting for 48% of out patient consultation, 20%
admissions and 24.9% inpatient deaths. It has also been documented in the nationwide
child survival study that malaria affected school attendance by 20% and contributes to 47%
of the child deaths in Ethiopia.
Knowledge on local malaria situations is an important step in planning intervention and
control activities since the transmission dynamics and determinants differ from place to
place and in time. In the study area there is scarcity of community based studies which
could provide recent information on the epidemiology of malaria for planning and
implementation of effective prevention and control activities.
A cross sectional study was carried out in Bushulo, Awassa District ,Sidama Zone,
SNNPR from February 2006 to May 2006 with the objective to estimate prevalence of
malaria and Factors influencing it.
A total of 487 children and 200 households were studied from four rural localities selected
by simple random sampling and using proportional to size allocation to each locality. The
response rate was 98.2%. Household and clinical data were collected using semi-structured
questionnaires and a format was used for laboratory data. Blood samples were taken with
aseptic technique from 487children 2 -9 years of age for microscopy.
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Results of the study revealed that malaria parasite rate was 3.9% (95% CI: 2.4-6.1) where
as fever rate and spleen rates were 9% (95% CI: 6.7-12) and 10.9% (95%CI: 8.3-14)
respectively. Household ITNs prevalence was 39%. Multivariate logistic regression
analysis was done to identify risk factors and the result revealed that family size 5 (p
value<0.05), child’s age 2-5 years (p value<0.05) and residing in houses with corrugated
Iron sheet roofs (p value <0.05) were found to be associated with higher risk of getting
malaria (parasite rate).
Residing in a locality called “Finchawa” (p value<0.05) and distance of settlement within
less than 1km from Lake shore of Awassa (p value<0.01) were associated with a higher
risk of malaria (spleen rate).
As the proportion of partially immune population is very low in hypoendemic areas, these
localities are prone to waves of epidemics. In areas where the option of environmental
manipulations may be difficult especially after the major rainy season, it is advisable to
apply indoor residual spraying up to a distance of 1km to effectively use scarce resources
and minimize environmental contamination. Awareness creation for the proper use of ITNs
and community mobilization is needed for environmental manipulation where possible.
Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment, as well as, where environmental manipulations
are difficult as in communities residing near Lake Awassa, Indoor residual spraying is
advised to be applied prior to the rainy season to prevent and control epidemic outbreaks.
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Prevalence of Malaria and its influencing factors in Awassa District