Impact of Malaria Control Measures on Malaria Prevalence and Public Awareness in Urban and Rural Settings of Kemisie, Oromiya Zone, Amhara Region

No Thumbnail Available

Date

2010-06

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Assessment of malaria control efficacy on malaria prevalence was conducted from November/December, 2008 in Kemisie town and in three surrounding rural Kebeles in Dawa Chefa District. Retrospective data on malaria and malaria control activities were obtained from Kemisie and Woledi Health Centers and the District malaria control office for the years 2005/2006 up to 2007/2008. Parasitological survey was conducted during peak malaria transmission season of the area (November/ December 2008). The retrospective clinical reports of Kemisie and Woledi Health Centers showed malaria to be over 31% average annual prevalence, making it a major infectious disease, constituting significant public health problem. On the other hand, examination of blood films from a random sample of 300 individuals, from six Kebeles of Kemisie town and nearby rural Kebeles in 2008 malaria season, detected 5.3% malaria prevalence only. This finding revealed a significant reduction in malaria prevalence, which suggests improvement in malaria control and intervention in the study area. The difference in malaria prevalence between Kemisie town (2.7%) and the rural Kebeles (8.0 %) in the 2008 survey was significant (P< 0.05), suggesting a less effective malaria control in the rural Kebeles. Malaria prevalence among different age groups showed more than half of malaria positive individuals to be 15 years and above, indicating lack of anti malaria immunity with increasing residence in the area. The main malaria control measures in the study area were combined use of IRS and ITN supplemented with source reduction activities and treatment of positive cases. There was significant improvement in ITN coverage per household in 2008 compared to 2006(both in urban and rural settings) (P<0.05). The proportion of households with at least one ITN was above 83% whereas IRS coverage per household did not show much change from year to year both in Kemisie town and rural Kebeles. A higher proportion of population was involved in source reduction activities in 2008, with significantly (P< 0.01) higher involvement of urban Kebeles (84.0%) compared to the rural Kebeles (49.2%). Despite relative progress shown in malaria control activities both in the urban and rural Kebeles, the KAP survey revealed higher awareness of the urban population about malaria infection and malaria control measures compared to the rural residents. Therefore, based on the present findings, extra attention should be given to the Kemisie rural communities to provide appropriate malaria control and intervention measures and the malaria control activities in Kemisie town must be continued in a sustainable manner. Key words: Malaria prevalence, Malaria control, ITNs, IRS, Kemisie.

Description

Keywords

Malaria prevalence, Malaria control, ITNs, IRS, Kemisie

Citation

Collections