Impact of Malaria Control Measures on Malaria Prevalence and Public Awareness in Urban and Rural Settings of Kemisie, Oromiya Zone, Amhara Region
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Date
2010-06
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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.
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Keywords
Malaria prevalence, Malaria control, ITNs, IRS, Kemisie