Six Year Trend Analysis of Malaria Prevalence at University of Gondar Specialized Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, from 2014-2019

Abstract

Background: Malaria is disease caused by plasmodium species and transmitted by the bite of female anopheles mosquito. Globally, it is still the major public health problem that causes morbidity and mortality especially in tropical and sub-tropical African countries including Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess the Six year trend of malaria at University of Gondar Specialized Referral Hospital, northwest Ethiopia, from 2014-2019Method: A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the laboratory registration logbook at University of Gondar Specialized Referral Hospital by using data extraction tool. The data was analysized by SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the socio-demographic characteristics of study participants and presented by graphs, tables and texts. The binary logistic regression was also used test the association of trend of malaria and different factors like sex, age, year, and season. Result: From a total 17,500 malaria suspected patients, 1341 (7.7%) were confirmed for malaria and (47.2%), (45.6%) and (7.2%) were P.vivax, P. falciparum and mixed infection, respectively. P.vivax was the predominant species in the first three years and P. falciparum became the predominant species in the last three years. The trend prevalence was showed a fluctuated significantly decrement. It decreased by 68%, 60% and 69% in the year of 2017, 2018 and 2019 compare to 2014, respectively. The positivity rate were significantly higher in the males (1.41 times higher) than females. It was also significantly higher in lower age groups compare to the older age groups (> 54 years old). It was 1.60, 1.64, 2.45 and 1.82 times higher in the age group of < 5, 5-14, 15-24 and 25-54 years old, respectively.Conclusion: There has been a significant declining trend of malaria in the study area. However, it is still a major health problem and requires extra efforts for further reduction. Even, autumn was the season when the highest peak of malaria cases in was observed, there was high fluctuation from year to year. Therefore, control activities should be continued and strengthened manner in the study area considering these variability.

Plasmodium falciparumtransmission in the highlands of Ethiopia is driven by closely related and clonal parasites

“…There are ongoing reports of cases of both P. falciparum as the predominant species and P. vivax in this area (42), but data are scarce. Similar to reports from other highland areas in Ethiopia, malaria transmission is highly seasonal with annual fluctuations (42). The main rainy season with the highest number of malaria cases is from October to January, with a shorter rainy season around June-July.…”

“…Of all the Western, Northern and Central zones of Gondar, the lowland districts are highly malaria endemic, while the remaining districts are characterized by low to moderate malaria transmission (4,40,41). There are ongoing reports of cases of both P. falciparum as the predominant species and P. vivax in this area (42), but data are scarce. Similar to reports from other highland areas in Ethiopia, malaria transmission is highly seasonal with annual fluctuations (42).…”