Epidemiology of malaria in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system, south-central Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Background A deep understanding of the local epidemiology of malaria is essential for the design and implementation of setting-specific control and elimination efforts. In Côte d’Ivoire, new initiatives are underway to reduce the burden of malaria, which requires high-quality longitudinal data. The epidemiology of malaria was studied in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in south-central Côte d’Ivoire and implications for control are discussed.MethodsTwo cross-sectional surveys were carried out in the rainy season of June/July in 2010 and 2011. Inhabitants of approximately 7 % of randomly selected households in the Taabo HDSS were invited to participate. People were clinically examined, ear temperature was measured and spleen size determined. Finger-prick blood samples were collected and subjected to a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Additionally, thick and thin blood films were prepared on microscope slides and diagnosed under a microscope for Plasmodium infection and parasitaemia. Haemoglobin (Hb) level was determined using a HemoCue device.ResultsA total of 1187 and 1264 people in 2010 and 2011, respectively, had complete data records. The prevalence of Plasmodium infection was 46.0 % in 2010 and 56.6 % in 2011, owing to a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Males showed a higher Plasmodium infection prevalence than females (49.6 and 62.8 % versus 42.6 and 51.2 %; respectively, in 2010 and 2011; both p < 0.05). The highest malaria prevalence was observed among infants and young children (aged ≤9 years). The risk of Plasmodium infection was significantly higher in villages compared to small hamlets and urban settings (p < 0.05). Fever, Hb level and splenomegaly were associated with parasitaemia.ConclusionMalaria is highly endemic in the Taabo HDSS in south-central Côte d’Ivoire with considerable spatial heterogeneity of Plasmodium infection. There is a pressing need to scale-up control interventions against malaria.

Asymptomatic and sub-microscopic malaria infection in Kayah State, eastern Myanmar

“…Many previous studies have found that males are more likely to have Plasmodium infections than females [14, 31–33]. In this study, men working in the forests had much higher infection rates.…”

Prevalence and genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in patients attending regional health center in Daloa, Cte dIvoire

“…A study carried out in villages from the central region of Côte d'Ivoire led to similar results (Ouattara et al, 2014). Another study carried out in the central south region of the country in 2010 and 2011 presented a prevalence of 46 and 56 % respectively (Bassa et al, 2016), indicating that infection prevalence is function of period, epidemiological facies and vegetation that promote and maintain anopheles pressure (Raso et al, 2012). The correlation between malaria infection and factors such as the use of treated insecticide nets, education level, age and residential environment demonstrate the role of these factors in malaria epidemiology.…”

Comparative Performance Evaluation of Routine Malaria Diagnosis at Ho Municipal Hospital

“…But the agreement observed was slightly higher compared to that reported by Kilonzo et al [ 30 ] (kappa: 0.354) in Tanzania. A recent study in Yemen by Alareqi et al [ 31 ] also reported a kappa of 0.379 for both febrile and afebrile participants and a higher weighted kappa of 0.638 among only febrile patients. Thus RDT could be used for malaria diagnosis in settings where microscopy is not available [ 32 ].…”