Symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria prevalence and its determinant factors in pastoral communities of Waghemira Zone, Northeast Ethiopia: A community‐based cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Background and Aims: Malaria elimination programs have also encountered numerous challenges, such as widespread asymptomatic carriers in endemic areas, which should be taken into account in malaria-control programs for effective transmission interruption. The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria infections and associated factors, in pastoral communities.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among selected districts in the Waghemra Zone, Northeast Ethiopia, from September to December 2022. A structured questionnaire was employed to collect sociodemographic data and associated risk factors. Plasmodium species were detected using light microscopy and a rapid diagnostic test. Data entry and analysis were carried out using SPSS version 26 software. The association between dependent and independent variables was explored by using multivariable logistic regression analyses. A statistically significant association was declared at a p-value of <0.05. Results:The overall prevalence of malaria was 21.2% (134/633), with the predominant Plasmodium falciparum infections accounting for 67.8% (87/134).Among asymptomatic participants, 7.5% (34/451) and 10.2% (46/451) were diagnosed by rapid diagnostic test and light microscopy, respectively. On the other