Abstract:
Globally, malaria affects the health and wealth of more than three billion people and causes more
than a million deaths annually. In Ethiopia the problem is particularly severe and 68% of the land
mass of Ethiopia is estimated to bemalaria risky Consequently,about more than3 million
Ethiopians are affected by malaria annually. The findings of this research would help to increase
community awareness on how to prevent malaria transmission, and assist physicians and policy
makers to give more emphasis on malaria control strategies
In this research retrospective and prospective data were collected to see the trend and prevalence
of malaria at Gubre and its surrounding community, Gurage zone. The collected data was
analyzed quantitatively and experimentally. Over all prevalence of malaria in the retrospective
study found to be 28.9%. From the retrospective data analysis, the trends of infection from 2012-2016 was decreasing. However higher malaria infection (45.4%) was recorded in 2013.Higher
age related prevalence of malaria was observed in15-44 years age group. Highly difference
observed among months in mean number of Plasmodium vivax prevalence in the study area and
higher prevalence recorded in a month of November and the least in August. However, there is
no difference in Plasmodium falciparum prevalence among months of the studied year. Over all
prevalence of malaria in the prospective study was found to be 6.09%. Moreover higher
prevalence was observed in less than five and 15-44 years age group and malaria occurrences in
females were higher than male. The prevalence of Plasmodium vivax in retrospective and
prospective study was19.1% and 5.4% whereas Plasmodium falciparum was 9.9% and 0.95%
respectively. Educating people to use all malaria controlling measures including distribution of
bed nets prior to the peak months of malaria prevalence would help to control malaria infection
in the study area. In addition to this the Government needs to develop new approach, strategies
and tools to control malaria.
